Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to recognize the centennial anniversary of Milton First Assembly of God, in Santa Rosa County, Florida.

Milton First Assembly of God traces its roots back to the early Pentecostal movements of the 20th century, when a small group of fervent believers came together during a tent revival meeting in 1912 and formed the Pentecostal Assembly of God Church. The enlightening sermons given by Reverends Sherman

McGraw and Isaac Jordan, along with the passionate religious conviction of early congregants like Mrs Minnie Cobb, helped to draw additional members and expand the church's role in the community. Shortly after its founding, the church was forced to move from a tent to a larger permanent location to accommodate its growing membership.

In 1969, the church name was officially changed to the Milton First Assembly of God. At this time, Pastor Fred Rogers and his wife Jackie assumed leadership of the congregation. Pastor and Mrs. Rogers further strengthened their fellowship numbers through several outreach programs and a successful bus ministry. After years of dedication and faith in our Lord, the church was able to purchase property to build the campus their growing faith community needed. Now, 43 years later, Pastor and Mrs. Rogers and Milton First Assembly of God continue to foster spiritual and professional growth by providing religious guidance and philanthropy to the church members and surrounding community.

One hundred years after its founding, the strong moral framework and religious convictions of the church's original congregation continue to guide the church as it serves Northwest Florida. Multiple generations of the Santa Rosa County community have raised families while worshipping and rejoicing in the Word of God at Milton First Assembly of God, and the congregation has remained faithfully devoted to the Lord. Santa Rosa County is greatly indebted to their outstanding service.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pleasure to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Milton First Assembly of God. My wife Vicki joins me in congratulating the congregation and thanking them for their service to the community. May the Spirit of the Lord continue to bless the church on this important milestone and the many to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the Gilmore family for being selected as the 2012 Escambia County, Florida Outstanding Farm Family.

Jacob and Carla Gilmore, along with their twin daughters Sydney and Ella, own and operate the Gizmo Angus Farm in Molino, Florida. Thanks to programs like 4-H and FFA, Jacob gained invaluable experience in agriculture at a young age, and this experience has helped the Gilmore family establish a successful cattle farm. From the ages of 8 to 19, Jacob consistently won accolades from 4-H, FFA and the Escambia County Interstate Fair. He also twice produced the Grand Champion Steer, while also raising Grand Champion Laying Hens, and becoming a state finalist in beef production entrepreneurship.

Seven years ago, the Gilmores were married, and Carla immediately embraced the hard work and dedication necessary to successfully operate a family farm. She supports her husband in every way possible, and together they are helping to instill a love of farming in their daughters. Today, Gizmo Angus Farm prides itself on integrating the latest technologies available to the industry, such as Artificial Insemination and embryo transfer, with traditional cattle farming activities.

In addition to their work on the family farm, the Gilmores are active in working with the youth of their community to spark interest in agriculture and family farming. By actively engaging young agriculture enthusiasts through the Young Farmers and Ranchers program, the Gilmores are a key influence in promoting agriculture throughout the state. The Gilmores have a true commitment to promoting agriculture in the Northwest Florida community, and their success is indicative of their dedication to farming and commitment to family.

Mr. Speaker, our great nation was built by farmers and their families. The Escambia County Outstanding Farm Family of the Year Award is a reflection of the Gilmores' tireless work and their dedication to family and farming. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Gilmore family for this great accomplishment. My wife Vicki and I extend our best wishes for their continued success.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is my privilege to honor the life and service of Northwest Florida's beloved Reverend Willie H. Carter. All of Northwest Florida, and in particular the people of Century, Florida, mourn the loss of this extraordinary man.

Reverend Carter spent the majority of his adult life in service to his fellow man. He was a strong advocate of human dignity and a tireless proponent of the importance of living up to one's God-given potential. Whether it was early on, as a counselor in the schools of Century, Florida, or later as Pastor of Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church, Reverend Carter's love of our Lord was matched only by his devotion to the betterment of the youth in his community.

Friends and neighbors warmly recall this humble man with a ready smile and firm handshake who made a deep impact on all who had the good fortune to know him. ``Your life is in your hands,'' he was fond of telling young people. ``You can make it anything you want it to be.'' But Reverend Carter also called upon them to improve themselves by turning off the television and picking up a book. He was famous for challenging young people to ``watch TV for an hour, close your eyes and see what you got out of that. Then read a book, close your eyes and see what you learned.''

Aside from his work in education and in the church, he was an advocate for schools in the community, was named one of the Grand Marshals of the Northview High School Homecoming Parade in 2010, took part in the 2010 Northview Baccalaureate service, and was previously named a NorthEscambia.com Person of the Year. Additionally, in 2011, I was pleased to welcome Reverend Carter, a World War II veteran, to Washington D.C., when he took part in the ninth and final Emerald Coast Honor Flight.

To some, Reverend Carter will be remembered as a spiritual leader; to others, he will be remembered for his tireless work on behalf of the youth of the Northwest Florida Community; and to his family and friends he will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He touched the lives of many with his self-giving devotion and tireless commitment to service.

On behalf of the United States Congress, I am honored to recognize the life, honorable service and accomplishments of Reverend Willie H. Carter. He will be missed by many, but his memory will live on through the timeless legacy he leaves behind. My wife Vicki joins me in extending our thoughts and prayers to Kraig, Audra, Paris, Lauren, Aerial, and the entire Carter family.

Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to recognize the life and service of the Honorable Warren Briggs. Mayor Briggs was a dedicated public servant and a staple in the community. Northwest Florida mourns his passing.

Mayor Briggs, a Saint Paul, Minnesota native, led a distinguished life as a public servant, businessman, educator and soldier. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who answered the call of duty and served our nation with honor and distinction. Mayor Briggs served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, and later returned to his alma mater to serve as an English Instructor at West Point. He served in the United States Air Force until 1957, achieving the rank of Major. Following his military service, Mayor Briggs settled down in northwest Florida with his wife, Gloria, and joined his father-in-law in the Century, Florida sawmills at Alger-Sullivan Company.

It did not take long for Mayor Briggs to become active in Pensacola and Escambia County politics. In 1966 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. Mayor Briggs was widely respected by his colleagues in the Florida State Legislature, and was described as a gentle politician by his friends. In 1976, he continued his service to the northwest Florida community as Mayor of the City of Pensacola until 1978.

Mayor Briggs was involved in myriad civic organizations and charities such as Hospice of Northwest Florida, University of West Florida Foundation, USO Downtown Improvements, Junior Achievement of Pensacola, the Navy League of the United States, the Children's Home Society, United Cerebral Palsy, the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Pensacola Museum of Art. He was also president of Baptist Health Care Foundation. Mayor Briggs' work ethic, humility, and dedication to the citizens of northwest Florida did not go unnoticed. He had been honored as the Businessman of the Year by the Pensacola News Journal, BIP Community Leader of the Year, and Madison Fellow. Mayor Briggs was also bestowed with the United Way Distinguished Community Service Award and the Baptist Healthcare Foundation Fellowship Award.

Mayor Briggs had a deep passion and commitment to beautifying the City of Pensacola, and he wanted to establish the city as the Crape Myrtle Capital of the World. He encouraged community residents to color the area by planting crape myrtles in their yards and other public spaces. He also worked to highlight the beauty and history of the city by developing and restoring Pensacola's historic buildings through his company, Thompson-Briggs Developers. He was also the self-appointed Pensacola weed inspector, a role that friends and family claim he was most passionate about.

To some, Mayor Briggs will be remembered as a dedicated public servant and member of our armed forces. To others, he will be remembered as an amiable and caring neighbor always willing to lend a hand to improve the city's appearance. To his family, he will most fondly be remembered as a loving brother, father, and grandfather. His impact on northwest Florida was immense, and his legacy will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pride to honor the life and service of Warren Briggs. My wife Vicki joins me in extending our most sincere condolences to his daughter, Sandi Briggs; granddaughter, Clancy Bambrick; brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Nan Briggs and the entire Briggs family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the First Special Service Force for their unique service to the allied cause during World War Two. It is with a profound sense of gratitude that I honor the service and sacrifice of these forefathers of modern combined special operations forces. Their uniquely heroic contribution to the allied war effort in Europe played a crucial part in stemming the spread of tyranny and securing for future generations the blessings of freedom.

The First Special Service Force was the first official special operations unit in American history. It was formed in July 1942 as a result of a top secret plan conceived by the Chiefs of Staff of the United States and Great Britain to assemble a new type of fighting force capable of combining special warfare tactics and speed of movement to attack and destroy key military and industrial installations in Europe supporting the Nazi war effort.

It was initially composed of 1,800 American and Canadian volunteers who had been mountaineers, loggers, ranch hands and outdoorsmen before the war. They received extensive training at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana, in parachuting, demolitions, mountain-climbing, winter warfare and amphibious landings.

From 1943 onward, the First Special Service Force took part in high risk missions in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, in Italy and in the south of France; and they were the first Allied unit to enter liberated Rome. During combat operations at Anzio, Italy, captured Nazi documents indicated that, due to their ferocity and stealth in combat, the Germans had begun referring to the First Special Service Force as ``the Black Devils.'' It was from this revelation that the unit received its nickname--the Devil's Brigade. By the end of the war, the First Special Service Force lost a total of 2,314 men, equating to 134 percent of the original combat force.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is my honor to recognize the service and sacrifice of those valiant American and Canadian volunteers who served the cause of freedom as members of the First Special Service Force. Their dedication to duty, their selfless service to their countries, and their enormous contribution toward halting the spread of Nazi tyranny bear testament to the shared heritage of freedom between the United States and Canada. My wife Vicki joins me in saluting the men of the First Special Service Force on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the formation of the First Special Service Force.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the Ward family for being selected as the 2012 Walton County, Florida, Outstanding Farm Family.

Bruce and Shirley Ward have been farming and raising livestock in the Liberty Community of Walton Country for many years. They raise cattle and grow a variety of fresh produce, peanuts, cotton, and soybeans. The Wards' vegetable stand located off of Highway 331 affords local citizens and those traveling through the area an opportunity to enjoy their fresh produce. The Wards' farm also includes a portable sawmill, which Mr. Ward operates in his spare time to grind sugarcane.

Bruce and Shirley share their time on the farm with their loved ones and have always cherished the time they have spent with their children and grandchildren. They are also longtime members of the Florida Farm Bureau. It is appropriate to say that the Wards exemplify the perfect balance of farm, family, and community.

Mr. Speaker, our great nation was built by farmers and their families, and I take great pride in recognizing and paying tribute to the outstanding farm families located in Northwest Florida. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Ward family and thank them for their contributions to the Northwest Florida community. My wife Vicki and I extend our best wishes for their continued success.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize the Barton family for being selected as the 2012 Holmes County, Florida, Farm Family of the Year.

Ken and Rhonda Barton are Northwest Florida natives with a deep connection to the local farming community. Farming became a part of their childhood and way of life. Thirty-three years ago, they were married, and it then became a love they have since shared as husband and wife and one that they now share with their children and grandchildren. Together, they successfully operate a 1,200 acre farm, where they raise livestock and grow peanuts, cotton, oats, and hay. The success of the farm is largely due to the way in which the Barton family operates. Each plays a supporting role, while embracing the best management practices. It is through their tireless work and dedication that the Barton Family demonstrates a true love of agriculture and family.

Outside of the farm, the family plays an active role in the community. Ken and Rhonda are heavily involved in numerous state agriculture associations, including the Florida Peanut Producers Association, the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the Florida Cattlemen's Association, and the Florida Farm Bureau. In 2003, Ken became the Executive Director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association, where he proudly represents the peanut farmers of the state of Florida in both Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. He also dedicates his time to research, promotion, and education in Florida peanut production.

Their daughter Tonya is an elementary school teacher at Bethlehem School and is married to Kevin Amerson, who is a field representative with Dothan Livestock. They have instilled in their two young children, Kason and Kolton, a dedication and appreciation for farming, as they are always eager to assist with hay operations or working the cattle. And Ken and Rhonda's son, Chad, is an aircraft mechanic at Fort Rucker and is active with the row-crop operation of the farm. He is married to Ashley Miller who assists with the daily workings of the farm. One of the greatest joys of their two young children, Kenny and Kaylee, is spending time in the field or on a tractor with Ken and Rhonda.

In addition to their love for farming and love of family, as great stewards of the land, Ken and Rhonda are devoted Christians who are ever grateful to the Lord.

Mr. Speaker, our great nation was built by the hard work of farmers and their families. The Holmes County Farm Family of the Year Award is a true reflection of the Barton family's tireless work and dedication to country, faith, and family. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Barton family for this great accomplishment. My wife, Vicki, and I wish them the best for continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cody Taylor, on the occasion of his retirement after thirty-six years of service as Clerk of Court for Holmes County, Florida. For more than three decades, Mr. Taylor served the citizens of Northwest Florida with distinction and unwavering commitment to public service.

A native of Northwest Florida, Mr. Taylor attended Poplar Spring High School in Graceville. There, he helped lead the basketball team to two state championships. He received a basketball scholarship to Chipola Junior College and to the University of West Florida, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a master's degree in Public Administration. In 1976, Mr. Taylor was elected Holmes County Clerk. He has served in this capacity with the utmost respect and integrity. His tireless work ethic and dedication to the citizens of Holmes County for the last thirty-six years did not go unnoticed. In 2007, Mr. Taylor was named the ``Clerk of the Year'' by the Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers.

Mr. Taylor's commitment to the Northwest Florida community extends well beyond his role as Holmes County Clerk of Court. He is an active member of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and a devoted member of the First Baptist Church. Mr. Taylor served in the Florida Army National Guard and as a member of the Bonifay Kiwanis Club and West Florida Regional Planning Council. For twenty years, he served as a member of the Bonifay Little League Association and as a basketball official for the Florida High School Athletic Association. He was also the President and Board Member of the Holmes County Fair Association, President and co-founder of Holmes Healthcare, and Vice President of the Florida Future Farmers of America.

In addition to his service to the community, Mr. Taylor is also a loving and committed husband, father and grandfather. He and his wife Brenda, also a Northwest Florida native, have four children, Zachary, Whit, Lucas, and Hilary; and eleven grandchildren, Jordan, Jacob, Jackson, Kodie, Campbell, Graham, Gwynneth, Eli, Taylor, Brighton, and Georgia. I know Mr. Taylor looks forward to spending more time with them following his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I thank Cody Taylor for his dedication to our community, and I congratulate him on his retirement. My wife, Vicki and I wish him and his family all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle and the Girl Scouts of the USA on the occasion of their 100th anniversary.

Over the last century, the Girl Scouts of the USA has been committed to service and empowering America's youth. Today, this organization continues to bestow in young girls the courage, confidence, and character necessary for success in life. They afford young girls the opportunity to grow and develop physically,

mentally, and spiritually. What began as only eighteen girls from Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912, has grown over one hundred years later into a distinguished group with a membership of over 3.2 million girls and adults.

In my district alone, the Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle comprises over two thousand girls and nearly one thousand adult volunteers from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties. The members of the Panhandle's Girl Scout Council have demonstrated their commitment to bettering the community by participating in a myriad of events, such as the Christmas and Veterans Day Parades and Earth Hour. Through these events and fundraisers, they have touched the lives of many. Northwest Florida is proud of their achievements and grateful for their dedication.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize the Girl Scouts of the USA and especially the Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle for their service to the Northwest Florida community. My wife, Vicki and I congratulate them and wish them all the best for continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the Rawson family for being selected as the Okaloosa County, Florida Outstanding Farm Family for 2012.

Ten years ago, the Rawson family was in search of acreage for hunting. This search subsequently evolved into a successful family run tree farm with a fruit orchard and over one hundred and fifty new oak trees planted each

year. Over the past ten years, the Rawson family has managed the land to grow trees and attract wildlife. They use their one hundred fifty acres to plant myriad trees, including loblolly and slash pine longleaf, sawtooth, bur, shumard, willow, swamp chestnut, cherry bark oak, and pecan trees. The family's fruit orchard with pears, muscadines, and many other fruits was a later addition to the preexisting varieties of plants.

David and Pat Rawson have been married for thirty-six years, and they have three wonderful children, Paige, Suzanne, and Scott. They all assist in helping out with the farm, including tree planting, pruning, fertilizing, bush hogging, and weed management. It is David and Pat's plan to one day pass on the farm to their children to continue their farming legacy. The Rawson family truly embodies the cohesive nature and household unity that characterize our nation's family farmers.

Outside of their farm, David works part-time as an oral surgeon, and Pat is a devoted homemaker. In addition, both find the time to be active members of the Northwest Florida community. David is a member of the Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Florida Dental Association, Escambia and Santa Rosa Dental Society, and Escambia Sertoma. Pat is a member of the Junior League of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary. They both worship and volunteer at the Dorcas Baptist Church, and their continued commitment to agriculture and wildlife is further displayed through their involvement with the Certified Tree Farmers of America, National Wild Turkey Federation, Forest Landowners Association, National Rifle Association, and Florida Farm Bureau. The Rawson's commitment to farm, family, faith, and community is certainly commendable, and they serve as an example to all.

Mr. Speaker, our great nation was built by farmers and their families, and I take great pride in recognizing and paying tribute to the outstanding farm families located in Northwest Florida. This year we honor the Rawson family for their contributions to Okaloosa County and the farming community. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Rawson family for being awarded the title of Okaloosa County, Florida Outstanding Farm Family for 2012. My wife, Vicki and I extend our best wishes for their continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. For 60 years, the students, teachers, and staff at Choctawhatchee High have exhibited the assiduous dedication to excellence that makes our nation great.

In 1962, Okaloosa County, Florida completed plans to open a high school in

Shalimar, Florida. The county provided a state of the art building designed to hold 500 students; however, the school did not have an official name, so the local newspaper held a countywide naming contest. After the votes were counted, Choctawhatchee High School was declared the winner. Choctawhatchee--derived from a Creek Indian word meaning ``coming together''--was a fitting moniker for a school that would unite students from all across Okaloosa County.

Choctawhatchee High School opened its doors on September 22, 1962 in Shalimar, Florida; however, after four years, the school had already exceeded its capacity, and the school relocated to its present location in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. From day one, Choctawhatchee established itself as an institution of academic excellence committed to educating each and every student. Nearly 20,000 students have graduated from the school since its opening, with many of them going on to achieve success in fields ranging from our military and space exploration to professional athletics and business.

Thanks to the dedicated support of teachers, staff, alumni and the entire community, Choctawhatchee has continued to excel and reach new heights. Today, the school offers the only International Baccalaureate program in Okaloosa County, Florida, more than a dozen Advanced Placement classes, an aviation program offered in partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, duel enrollment college courses with Northwest Florida State College, computer and electrical engineering programs in conjunction with the University of West Florida, as well as a successful Air Force Junior ROTC program.

Choctawhatchee also has a long and successful athletics program. In fact, the school's tradition of having a student ride a horse onto the field prior to football games served as the inspiration for a similar tradition at Florida State University. Whether it is on the playing field or in the classroom, Choctawhatchee High School's commitment to excellence has served as an inspiration and point of pride for the entire Northwest Florida community.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of Choctawhatchee High School. The Mayor and City Council of Fort Walton Beach have declared Friday, September 21, 2012, as Choctawhatchee High School Day. My wife Vicki and I join the entire Northwest Florida community in congratulating Choctawhatchee High School on their 60th anniversary and wishing them continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the more than 83,000 Americans still listed as missing in action or prisoners of war. Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

I would like to bring to the attention of my House colleagues the efforts made by the joint POW/MIA Accounting Command to recover and return home to their families our unaccounted for servicemembers.

Also, let us recognize groups such as Rolling Thunder, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the National League of POW/MIA Families, and numerous others who ensure those who remain missing are never forgotten, and that our Nation remembers their sacrifice.

This includes Army Private First Class Ithiel Whatley of Escambia County, Florida, who was last seen on July 12, 1950, in Korea and who is remembered every day of the year by his brother Nat.

We salute our POWs and MIAs who have given to this Nation more than we can ever repay. The United States will not rest until each is home and has received the proper burial on American soil they deserve.

Please offer a prayer for those who remain on the battlefields of the past and of the present, and let us pledge that not one is left behind.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5948) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the supervision of fiduciaries of veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

H.R. 5948, as amended, makes great strides towards protecting some of our Nation's most vulnerable veterans in improving the quality of other memorial benefits that our veterans have earned.

First and foremost, this bill will bring needed protections and reforms to our most vulnerable veterans. For far too long, bad actors in VA's fiduciary program have taken advantage of veterans in every part of this great Nation. When pressed on this issue by the committee, VA claimed that the program was fine and did not need any statutory changes.

This bill will help weed out those bad actors and implement the necessary oversight actions VA has failed to take while simplifying the confusing and burdensome requirements of those beneficiaries performing their jobs well on behalf of those veterans.

The VA fiduciary program is intended to administer benefits for veterans deemed incompetent to handle their own finances by the Department of Veteran Affairs fiduciary program. Numerous deficiencies within the program have been highlighted by the Veterans' Affairs Committee and brought to the VA's attention; yet the Department is continually slow to act and fix these systemic problems.

Among those problems are fiduciaries that are embezzling veterans' funds, refusing to pay a veteran's utility bills, fiduciaries taking more than the amount authorized by law as commission for services rendered, convicted felons appointed as fiduciaries, and fiduciaries telling veterans to conserve money by not running their air conditioning during the summer months.

Mr. Speaker, despite these tragic stories, VA maintains that its fiduciary program is, in fact, sound, an argument difficult to justify when earlier this month a couple pleaded guilty to stealing over $2 million from 49 veterans. I hate to tell you that this is not an isolated case. At the beginning of 2012, a U.S. district judge sentenced two VA-appointed fiduciaries to prison for stealing nearly $900,000 from 10 different veterans. In both cases, the fiduciaries used the stolen funds to go gambling, among other things.

The Veterans Fiduciary Reform and Noble Service Act makes much-needed

improvements to VA's fiduciary program by allowing veterans to appeal the appointment of a fiduciary, allowing a veteran to request that a new fiduciary be appointed when cause can be shown, and to designate a preferred fiduciary ahead of time, such as a family member.

The bill would also remove the profit motive for predatory fiduciaries by reducing the commission that's paid to them to a level in line with Social Security's program that's equivalent. Fiduciaries would have to undergo background checks, minimizing the chance for unqualified fiduciaries to enter the system. They'd also have to account in writing for their disbursement of a veteran's income on an annual basis, addressing another lapse in oversight the VA has failed to address.

Section 3 of the legislation designates a ``Place of Remembrance'' at Arlington National Cemetery to serve as a dignified final resting place for remains of veterans that may not otherwise have a final resting place. This section is in direct response to our learning last year that cremated remains were being taken from Dover Air Force Base to a landfill, a practice that took place over a 4-year period.

Sections 4, 5, and 6 aim to address an incident that happened at the Bushnell National Cemetery where a veteran with no known next of kin was buried in a cardboard box.

Section 4 requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish an appropriate casket or urn for a deceased veteran with no known next of kin, where no other person claims the body, and the veteran lacks sufficient resources to cover burial and funeral expenses.

Section 5 improves the communication between the VA and funeral directors and the medical examiner's office by requiring the Secretary to ensure that any entity transporting the body of a deceased veteran to a national cemetery submits to VA whether the deceased veteran was cremated and whether or not steps were taken to ensure the deceased veteran has no next of kin.

Section 6 requires the Secretary to submit to both the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs a report within 180 days of enactment of this legislation detailing VA's compliance with industry standards for caskets and urns, including a description of the industry standards for caskets and urns and an assessment of compliance at the national cemeteries that are currently being administered by VA.

Section 7 of H.R. 5948, as amended, would bar convicted tier 3 sex offenders sentenced to a minimum of life in prison from burial in national veterans cemeteries and some State veterans cemeteries. Currently, those convicted of capital crimes are prohibited from such burial, and this will prohibit people convicted of an equally heinous crime from tarnishing the honor of veterans cemeteries.

Section 8 ensures that the explicit wishes of a veteran's family with regard to religious expressions are honored during interment or inurnment ceremonies at a VA national cemetery. Last year, officials at the Houston National Cemetery were accused of restricting religious speech at a ceremony.

While that specific incident was resolved in the courts, this section provides a legislative safeguard for all national cemeteries. Section 9 would allow County Veterans Service officers and some congressional employees access to read-only information regarding the status of a veteran's claim.

During a roundtable discussion between the committee and county veterans service officers, one of the main obstacles highlighted to answering veterans' questions was the lack of access to claims file information. Facilitating this additional level of assistance in the claims process is one simple step we can take to help veterans and potentially address the growing claims backlog.

Section 10, as amended, will improve protections to veterans whose sensitive information has been compromised by the VA. Now, veterans may not know right now that their personal information has been compromised for well over a month after it has occurred, but in this time of predatory identity theft, that's far too long and much damage could have taken place.

Section 11 of the bill adds a commonsense prohibition on the payment of bonuses to VA employees who violate Federal law, including Federal or VA acquisition regulations.

Section 12 rolls back the current average of nearly $400 million the VA annually pays out in bonuses and other incentives, findings that both the committee and VA's own inspector general show numerous cases of unjustified awards--often to employees with poor performance records--and significant retention incentives going to long-term employees who had publicly stated they were already preparing to retire while others around the country are taking steps to better manage their own budgets. It's time the VA does the very same.

With all of this, I want to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5948, as amended.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I want to thank Mr. Michaud for his fine work on this legislation and others that our committee has been involved in.

Mr. Speaker, one of the most important subcommittees within VA is Oversight and Investigations. That's why I asked the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson) to chair that subcommittee.

With that, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of New Jersey (Mr. Runyan), also somebody who has been very involved in helping us put this piece of legislation together.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers).

That's correct, no further speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members would have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 5948, as amended.

I thank you once again and encourage all Members to support this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6375) to authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects and leases, to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

This bill, as amended, would authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects, and it would also extend certain expiring authorities.

It encompasses VA's fiscal year for 2013, for major medical facility projects, and already tracks with the resources we have already provided to the Department for health care matters in the appropriations bill that was passed by the House with bipartisan support. It would aid in the delivery of health care to services and to servicemembers, veterans, and their families in communities all across this country.

It authorizes two major medical facility projects, the construction of a mental health building at the VA Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, in an amount not to exceed $222 million, and the construction of a spinal cord injury center at the VA Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, in an amount not to exceed $155.2 million.

Section 102 of the bill would authorize the renovation of the surgical suite and operating rooms at the Medical Center in Miami, in an amount not to exceed $41 million. I would note that this project was originally undertaken by the Department in 2007 as two separate minor construction projects.

However, in 2008, the two separate projects were combined into a single initiative without the knowledge of VA's central office, or the approval, in direct violation of established procedures. The VA officials first became aware of this issue in February of this year, and in April of this year they determined that the combined project constituted a major construction project that had moved forward without congressional authorization as required by law.

Work on the project is currently suspended, at a cost of approximately $6,000 a day. As soon as our committee became aware of the issue, we requested an in-depth briefing from VA officials to get to the bottom of the issue and to ensure that the leaders of the VA responsible for this egregious oversight were, in fact, held accountable.

It's really nothing short of unacceptable to this committee and, I would hope, to this Congress that this facility had been openly flouting VA policy and, more importantly, breaking Federal law for 4 years without consequence before somebody at VA took notice.

How many other VA projects have moved forward without regard for proper procedure, legal requirements, or congressional authorization; and how long has the central office not been paying attention?

The committee will continue to be vigorous in our oversight. But in the meantime, we cannot allow the American taxpayer or the veterans of south Florida to suffer because of a bureaucratic failing or lack of leadership.

The Department has proposed using approximately $12.1 million in prior-year major construction advance planning funds to complete the remainder of the Miami project; and I've been assured repeatedly by VA officials that the use of this money will in no way negatively impact the planning or design of any other project.

I've also been assured by the Department that once congressional authorization is received, the project can be completed in 120 days. I'm hopeful that the Department is correct in its assessment of the work that remains and that this provision will allow for the completion of this project to better serve the veterans in the Miami area.

Section 103 of this bill would authorize the appropriation of $377.2 million for VA major construction projects. Title II of this bill would extend expiring authorities for several programs within VA, including programs designed to help veterans keep their homes, gain greater access to compensation and pension examinations, better serve veterans living in the Philippines, and provide supportive services to those who are homeless.

This legislation represents a bipartisan effort; and I'd like to express my thanks to the ranking member, Mr. Filner, and Mr. Michaud for his hard work and leadership in quickly advancing this important legislation to the floor.

And before I yield, I'd like to point out that the bill before us today does not include major medical facility lease authorizations, as it normally would, due to concerns raised late last week by the Congressional Budget Office about how to properly account for the total cost of VA's lease authorization.

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure our veterans and stakeholders that I am committed to working closely with my colleagues in the Senate, the administration's Office of Management and Budget, and the Congressional Budget Office to find a way forward on those important authorizations in the very near future.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 6375, as amended.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers on this particular piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 6375, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague for helping to point out the fact that the Senate, itself, has not acted on many of the pieces of legislation that, in fact, this House has passed and sent over to it. It is a shame that, for the last 3 years, they have not taken up such good legislation.

With that, I thank my colleagues once again for their support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of

Northwest Florida's beloved William ``Bill'' Maloy.

Dr. Maloy was born in Des Moines, Iowa and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. During World War II, he answered the call of duty and served our Nation with honor and distinction in the United States Navy. He was awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry in action. After the war, Dr. Maloy attended the University of Nebraska where he earned a bachelor's and master's degree in education, while also being commissioned into the Naval Reserves. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and came to Pensacola, Florida, intending to pursue a naval career; however, Dr. Maloy soon realized that he had a true passion and aptitude for teaching, and after the end of the war, he dedicated himself to education.

Dr. Maloy began his teaching career in Northwest Florida as a teacher and assistant dean at Pensacola High School (PHS). After two years at PHS, Dr. Maloy moved to Tallahassee to pursue his doctorate degree in educational technology. This experience led Dr. Maloy to appreciate the important role that technology would play in education, and he proved to be a strong proponent of integrating technology into the curriculum throughout his career. After completing his doctorate in 1958, Dr. Maloy moved back to Pensacola to serve as Assistant Principal at Escambia High School.

In 1959, Dr. Maloy began working with the Florida Department of Education, helping to spearhead Florida's first efforts to utilize new technology as a teaching tool. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Dr. Maloy again answered our nation's call and served as Executive Officer and subsequently Commanding Officer of the USS Tweedie, a Butler-class destroyer escort. After finishing his service, he accepted a position at Florida State University, where he became Assistant Dean of the College of Education. His expertise and dedication to education led him to serve as Education Advisor to two Florida governors, before becoming the Senior Civilian Advisor to the Chief of Naval Education and Training. In 1978, he was appointed to the Florida Board of Regents, the governing body for the State University System of Florida, and helped oversee the state's public universities.

In 1992, Dr. Maloy was elected as Superintendent of Schools in Escambia County. As Superintendent, he was credited with beginning the technological revolution in the school district, and he helped move the district to the forefront of instructional education technology adopting applications to help improve student experience and performance. In 1996, he retired as Superintendent and moved to the University of West Florida where he taught until his retirement in 2009.

Dr. Maloy was a loving and dedicated husband and father who instilled in his children the importance of education in helping to improve the lives of every child in America. Two of Dr. Maloy's sons went on to become educators, continuing the family legacy of promoting excellence in education. Family was everything to Dr. Maloy, and he was a true inspiration to his four children, fourteen grandchildren and one great- grandchild.

To some, Dr. Bill Maloy will be remembered as a world-class educator and innovator who saw the importance of technology in education and helped to implement it in the classroom. To others, he will be remembered as a true patriot who served his country with honor and distinction in World War II and the Korean War. To his family, he will most fondly be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His contributions to education in Northwest Florida and throughout the entire State have improved the lives of countless students.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pride to honor the life and selfless service of Dr. William ``Bill'' Maloy. My wife Vicki joins me in extending our most sincere condolences to the entire Maloy family.