Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Jimmy Jones on receiving the Philip O. Lichtblau, M.D. Award. Dr. Jones has spent the last 45 years serving his patients, his community, and his country; and I am proud to recognize his lifetime of achievements.

After graduating from the University of Tennessee Medical School in 1956, Dr. Jones began his medical career with the U.S. Naval Hospital in Queens, New York. He continued his active duty service as a flight surgeon in the Navy through 1959. Dr. Jones remained in the Naval Reserve and retired in 1997 with the rank of Captain. After 1960, he worked in Boston, practicing general surgery, thoracic surgery, and ultimately pediatric surgery, which became his life's calling. In 1972, he moved to the Gulf Coast, serving as a pediatric surgeon at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. For 35 years, he was the only pediatric surgeon in the Panhandle. Dr. Jones returned to active duty from 1990-1997 as a surgeon in both Pensacola and Okinawa, Japan. Following his naval retirement, he returned to Northwest Florida as Surgeon-in-chief of the Pensacola Nemours Children's Clinic. In 2005, Dr. Jones became the Assistant Medical Director at the clinic, where he remains today.

Beyond his extensive career accomplishments, Dr. Jones has given his life to serving the children of our community. He works extensively with the Sacred Heart Foundation, the Children's Miracle Network, and founded the local Caduceus Society to create a mechanism for physicians to contribute towards

medical education for non-physicians. Countless nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists have benefited from the Society's support. Dr. Jones volunteers with the Fiesta of Five Flags, the Rotary Club, and the Whibbs Maritime Park Board of Trustees, advising the community on its signature downtown development project.

Dr. Jones' contributions to the pediatrics profession and his community service extend well outside official capacities. For many years, he made monthly trips from Pensacola to Panama City to see patients in the Children's Medical Services (CMS) clinic and in local pediatricians' offices, thereby saving families travel expenses. Today, despite his official retirement, Dr. Jones continues to serve as the Assistant Medical Director at Nemours, arriving daily to help the children of our community heal and live a better life. The Philip O. Lichtblau Award, given annually by The Florida Pediatric Society to a surgeon who has contributed significantly to the CMS program, is a testament to his life of service.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to honor Dr. Jimmy Jones on his success. My wife Vicki and I are proud to congratulate Dr. Jones, his wife Deana, and four children Susannah Frazier, Chuong Vu, Meredith Wolf, and Michael Jones on this truly special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 894) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2011, in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

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

I rise today in support of Senate bill 894, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. This is critically important legislation that authorizes a cost-of-living increase for our veterans' disability compensation, veterans' clothing allowance payments, and other compensation for survivors of veterans who die as a result of service to our country. The 3.6 percent increase in benefit amounts this bill would authorize is tied directly to the consumer price index, which also controls the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries.

I want to thank the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee leadership, Senators Murray and Burr, for working with me and our ranking member, Mr. Filner, to get a COLA bill to the President's desk before Veterans Day.

I urge all my colleagues to support Senate bill 894, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield such time as he may consume to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan).

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee, Dr. Roe.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to a new member of the committee, a great advocate for veterans in his time here in Congress, the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Guinta).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Nugent), a member of the Florida delegation who has three sons wearing the uniform of this country, two sons currently serving in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material they may have on Senate bill 894.

Mr. Speaker, I once again encourage all my colleagues to support Senate bill 894, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Virginia, for bringing this legislation to the floor; and I thank my friend from California for, in fact, pointing out to the gentleman from the other side of the aisle that, in fact, there are attacks on our national motto ``In God We Trust.'' We do know that there are attempts to take it out of the CVC.

This country for many, many years--in fact, from its inception--has relied on a faith in God. Yes, there are attacks every day. There are attacks on our chaplains within our military services that are now being told in some instances that they cannot perform religious duties in reference to their faith. We have the flag-folding ceremony that is under attack now on veterans' cemeteries where people are now being told that they are not being allowed to do the flag-folding ceremony during the death of a person that has served time in this military.

But I think the unfortunate thing is that, as we stand here today, this is important. This is not a waste of time. It's important that we stand here and we renew our national motto, ``In God We Trust.'' Ronald Reagan said, in fact, that if we ever forget that we are one nation under God, that we will then be one nation gone under.

And so I'm proud to stand with my good friend from Virginia (Mr. Forbes) and all the Members who have come on the floor today to again reaffirm that our national motto is--yesterday, today, and will be tomorrow--``In God We Trust.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Daniel Mullins, upon his retirement from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), Santa Rosa County Extension Office. For over 40 years, Daniel Mullins has dedicated his career to educating and serving the Gulf Coast region through his passion for horticultural science.

A graduate of Mississippi State University, Daniel Mullins joined the University of Florida IFAS Extension office in Escambia County in 1970 and became the first horticulture agent in the Florida Panhandle and west of Tallahassee. He established a weekly gardening clinic, local nursery association chapter, published a weekly gardening column in the Pensacola News Journal, and served as part of a team documenting Northwest Florida beach dune plants. He also visited Europe to study cut flower production in Holland and applied those lessons to Florida. After seven years in Escambia County, he returned home to his native Mississippi to open his own landscape business, The Country Gardener.

Returning to Florida in 1989, Mr. Mullins began work with the Santa Rosa County Extension Office as the Commercial Horticulture Agent. Mr. Mullins was responsible for Extension educational programs for specialty crop producers of fruits and vegetables and the horticultural services industry, including nurseries, garden centers, and landscape professionals.

In Santa Rosa County, Mr. Mullins helped establish the Florida Digital Diagnostic System, designed a diagnostic lab that was included in the Santa Rosa County's Extension facility, taught plant grafting to nursery personnel and 4-H youth for more than 15 years and helped establish the Panhandle Butterfly House. He was the first person to identify chestnut blight on Chinquapin in Florida, and established a low-chill apple demonstration orchard to teach the importance of variety selection.

Throughout the course of his career, Mr. Mullins has received over fifty awards and honors, most at the state, Southeast regional, or national levels. Mr. Mullins also wrote over 1,200 newspaper columns, conducted over 3,000 field visits, and served as the National Horticulture Chair for the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in 2002, as well as both the Audit Committee Chair and Communications Committee Chair for the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents. As he begins retirement, he leaves behind a remarkable career full of accomplishments and one through which he has touched the lives of thousands in Northwest Florida.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to congratulate Daniel Mullins on his retirement and thank him for his service to the Gulf Coast. My wife Vicki and I wish him and his wife Vickie, and their three children, Katie, Sarah, and Jackson, all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tommie Speights, upon his retirement from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as District 3 Public Information Director, after 22 years of service to the State of Florida.

Born in Panama City, Florida and raised in Marianna, Mr. Speights worked in a number of different capacities prior to joining FDOT. A true patriot, he chose to serve his country during the Vietnam era and wore the uniform of the United States Army. Upon being honorably discharged from the Army, he attended Chipola Junior College and Florida A&M University. After completing his studies in Broadcast Journalism, he worked as a television news reporter for CBS affiliate WTVY-TV 4 News in Dothan, Alabama. During his 15 years there, he received several awards, including one from the Associated Press for ``Best Investigative Reporting.''

In 1989, Mr. Speights began his impressive career with FDOT as Public Information Director for District 3. This district includes 16 counties in Northwest Florida, stretching from Jefferson County in the east to Escambia County in the west. For the last 22 years he has devoted his professional life to helping those in need. Serving others brings him great satisfaction, and co-workers and supervisors alike applaud Mr. Speights for his dependability and unwavering commitment.

My wife Vicki and I wish him; his wife, the former Lillie Kendall of Marianna; their three children, Sheilah, Ron, and Marisa; and four grand-children, Alexus, NyAsia, Amarion, and Kensley all the best.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am honored to congratulate Mr. Speights on his retirement and thank him for his service to Northwest Florida and our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the life of retired Escambia County Sheriff Jim Lowman. Sheriff Lowman was an esteemed leader in Northwest Florida, and I am proud to honor his lifetime of dedication and service.

Sheriff Lowman was a respected and vital member of the Northwest Florida community. He served as dean at Woodham High School in Pensacola, Florida, before working as a counselor at the Juvenile Center. Although Sheriff Lowman did not have any prior experience serving in public office, he possessed a vast deal of first-hand knowledge of local law enforcement through his work as a juvenile counselor. In 1992, Sheriff Lowman decided to run for Escambia County Sherriff, and his highly successful campaign reflected his ability to work closely with the citizens of Escambia County to improve the local community. He was elected Sheriff and served in that capacity from 1993-2000.

When Sheriff Lowman's term began in January 1993, he undertook a thorough assessment of the department and concluded that the department was understaffed. In order to facilitate the recruitment of new deputies, Sheriff Lowman encouraged the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners to enroll in the Public Hiring Supply Program. The Commission agreed and during Sheriff Lowman's tenure the force was increased by nearly 60 percent.

Under Sheriff Lowman's direction, the Escambia County Sheriff's Department also undertook important measures to tackle alcohol and drug abuse. They forged a close working relationship with the Community Drug and Alcohol Program. Additionally, the Sheriff's Department identified key areas of drug trafficking and worked with the managers of these properties to develop a security plan. Gatekeepers, often off-duty Sheriff's deputies, patrolled the area to ensure that outside drug traffickers could not set up distribution points within housing developments.

Sheriff Lowman also oversaw a $2 million expansion of the County Jail. This expansion improved county facilities and helped to lessen crowding in the jail. Despite overseeing substantial improvements, Sheriff Lowman was able to run his department in a fiscally responsible manner, and in his final year he returned nearly $900,000 in unused funds back to the County.

While Sheriff Lowman was an invaluable member of the Northwest Florida community, and many will remember him for his tireless effort combating crime and improving the lives of Escambia County's citizens, he was first and foremost a family man. He was a loving and dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Sue, their four children--Jamie, Jennifer Sue, Lesley, and Scott--and their grandchildren, Gavin and Jay Scott.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am honored to recognize the life and service of Sheriff Jim Lowman. A committed community leader and loving family

man--he will be missed by many, but his memory will live on through the timeless legacy he left. My wife Vicki joins me in extending our thoughts and prayers to the entire Lowman family.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is with great respect and honor that I rise today to recognize the life of Northwest Florida's beloved Lance Corporal Travis M. Nelson.

Lance Corporal Nelson succumbed to wounds sustained in combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on August 18, 2011. At the time, he was assigned as a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Born in Orlando, Florida on August 5, 1992, Lance Corporal Nelson was a true American patriot. Drawn to military service at an early age, with the support of his family, he joined the Young Marines of Pensacola at 14. He later participated in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Pace High School, where he graduated from in 2010. He then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and upon completion of basic training in January 2011, Lance Corporal Nelson chose to serve in the infantry. He knew of the challenging role; however, he felt that the job should not be left for someone else. His decision to join the Marine Corps is a true testament to his character's strength and selflessness.

Lance Corporal Nelson was a beloved member of his community, remembered as an athlete, an avid fisherman, and a friend by those who knew him. He is survived by his parents, Scott and Beckie; his sisters, Anna and Jenna; his brother, Daniel; and his fiancee, Madeline Cates.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to honor the life of Lance Corporal Travis Nelson for his selfless service and sacrifice in defense of our nation. My wife Vicki and I offer our prayers for his entire family. He will be truly missed by all.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to rise today to recognize the McDonald family for being selected

as the 2011 Walton County, Florida Outstanding Farm Family of the Year.

For over 45 years, this multigenerational farm family has epitomized the true meaning of a strong work ethic and is blessed with good soil and a devoted family. Kyle McDonald along with his father, Ingram McDonald, owns 190 acres of land. He and his wife, Kim, their children, Garrett and Karley, and their canine companion, Patch, work together night and day to tend to their cattle and horses as well as their hay field.

Kyle and Kim have raised Garrett and Karley to be active members of their community and to be good stewards of the land. The McDonalds are members of the Florida Panhandle Cattlemen's Association and the Walton County Farm Bureau. Aside from their help on the farm, Garrett and Karley are both accomplished riders. Karley ropes and barrel races, and her brother ropes, calf ropes and team ropes. Garrett has won 16 saddles and numerous cash prizes over the years including placing fifth in the Nation for his age group in the all-around event this past July.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the life and service of Northwest Florida's beloved Jeroel D. ``J.D.'' Bray.

Born in Jay, Florida on December 25, 1919 to H.H. ``Hub'' and Alice Bray, J.D. spent his childhood with his brothers, Charlie, C.H. ``Chab,'' and Raymond; and his sisters, Beatrice, Mattie, Myrtle, and Maudie, helping out on the family farm and playing sports. He attended Jay High School and played football, baseball, and basketball.

J.D. Bray was a true patriot, and when his country called him to duty during World War II, he responded with honor and distinction. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1938 and upon completion of basic training, was sent to the Panama Canal. Later, as a member of the infantry, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. J.D. earned the rank of Sergeant and received an honorable discharge in 1945.

When he returned home, J.D. worked as a lineman with the Escambia River Electric Cooperative, and in 1952, he married Theda Warrick in Pascagoula, Mississippi. They bought and operated a local service station, and J.D. later joined the Santa Rosa County Road Department in Northwest Florida, where he retired in 1988. Throughout the course of his life, he understood and exemplified the true meaning of public service. As an active member in the Jay community, J.D. served as a City Councilman from 1954 to 1956 and then was elected to serve as Mayor. For 44 years, Mayor Bray held the position and assisted in the growth of the town's infrastructure through his invaluable leadership and unwavering dedication. Aside from his career, Mayor Bray was a member of the American Legion, past Commander of Edeker-DuBose Post 121 in Jay, a 32 deg. freemason, and a member of Red Rock Masonic Lodge #96 in Munson, Florida.

Mayor Bray is survived by his wife of 59 years, Theda; three children, Debbie (Michael) Gilley, Cheryl Bray, and Stewart (Maria) Bray; his grandchildren, S.J. Bray and Meghan Gilley; great- granddaughter, Tristan Bray; and his sister, Myrtle Bray.

To some, Mayor Bray will be remembered as a courageous member of our armed services who answered the call of duty during one of our Nation's most trying hours; to others, he will be remembered as a successful farmer, gardener, and a regular at the peanut co-op. He was a distinguished public servant, volunteer, and soldier; however, above all, Mayor Bray was a true family man. More than anything, J.D. enjoyed spending time with his family, friends, and neighbors, and he loved cheering his Florida State Seminoles to victory. Northwest Florida mourns the loss of a true leader, and his service to the community and this Nation will not be forgotten.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may be in order at any time on Thursday, October 13, 2011, for the Speaker to declare a recess, subject to the call of the Chair, for the purpose of receiving in joint meeting His Excellency Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2433) to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to the employment and training of veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Today I rise in strong support of H.R. 2433, as amended, the Veterans Opportunity to Work, or the VOW Act. The objective of H.R. 2433, as amended, is to use an approach that is comprehensive and is fiscally and programmatically sound to help a broad cross-section of

veterans obtain or retain meaningful employment.

Foremost among the provisions of the VOW Act is title I of the original legislation that I was proud to introduce to help put our unemployed veterans back to work. Title I targets retraining assistance to 100,000 unemployed veterans of past wars by temporarily extending their eligibility for the Montgomery GI bill. The advantage of this approach is that we are providing a reasonably robust yet affordable benefit without creating a new program. Other provisions in this bill continue the comprehensive approach by mandating, with a few exceptions, that separating servicemembers participate in transition assistance program classes.

Yet other provisions facilitate the alignment of State licensing and credentialing standards with the skills servicemembers learned during their military service to our country, and strengthening the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act provisions. The bill also incorporates a bill authored by the vice chairman of our committee, my good friend Gus Bilirakis from Florida, to direct the VA to collect data to determine the number of credit hours, the degrees, and the certificates earned by those attending courses under the GI bill.

Most importantly, the data collected will help us to learn how well the GI bill benefits are positioning veterans to get jobs in today's economy and market.

Provisions from H.R. 120, authored by the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), are also a part of this legislation. These provisions would extend the VA's home loan guaranty program to certain surviving spouses of chronically and severely disabled veterans. I thank Ms. Foxx for her continued advocacy on behalf of those whose support and loyalty was so important to their veteran spouses.

And finally, I should point out that the mandatory and discretionary costs of the bill before us today are fully covered and are compliant with the budget rules of this House, according to CBO. Mandatory offsets are covered by extending at their present rate funding fees paid by veterans using their home loan guaranty benefit and by limiting pension payments to veterans receiving care in Medicaid-funded nursing homes. These are both offsets that the committee has used extensively in the past, and most importantly, in passing a fix to the post-9/11 GI bill by a vote of 424-0 in this House.

The discretionary costs of the bill are covered by two additional provisions. The first eliminates the overcharging of VA by ambulance providers for transporting certain veterans. And the second holds VA employee travel, printing, and vehicle fleet costs at 2011 levels.

To my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I say that this is in fact a good bill that addresses a major issue confronting the Nation in a comprehensive and fiscally responsible manner with the support of the veterans service organizations.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2433, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I did not know that we were here today to hear a recitation of Dr. Seuss, but apparently we are.

What's interesting to note is that the gentleman from California has supported over and over and over again reaching into fee payments to pay for funding of other programs which he supported, like the Filipino Veterans Act, which I supported. And, in fact, I was a cosponsor of that piece of legislation. And I find that it's interesting that in 2010, Mr. Filner proposed nearly $1 billion in cuts to old age pension and aid, and attendants payments to the elderly, the poor, and the disabled wartime American veterans in an attempt to provide generous payments to noncitizen Filipino veterans of the Second World War.

With that, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida, the vice chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Mr. Bilirakis.

Will the gentleman yield?

Since the gentleman, my good friend, forgot to yield to me during that discussion, I just want to set the record straight that H.R. 2297, on December 16, 2003, of which Mr. Filner was a cosponsor, increased--it didn't just extend--it increased fees on original and subsequent use loans, which was done to finance veterans benefits in the bill, including the burial of Philippine veterans. In the House he enthusiastically endorsed the bill reported out of committee and again endorsed a negotiated version with the Senate.

With that, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Will the gentleman yield?

Will my good friend yield?

I would ask my good friend, the ranking member, if he would respond to a question.

Madam Speaker, I would ask if the gentleman from California supports Senator Murray's piece of legislation--which I believe there is almost an identical piece filed in the House by Mr. Bishop--does he support, yes or no, that piece of legislation?

I yield to the gentleman from California.

Reclaiming my time, Madam Speaker, I find it quite interesting that the gentleman from California has just called the Senator, who is the chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, a hypocrite, which I do not believe is appropriate.

I believe that there are nuances and differences which we will be able to work out, hopefully, in conference when we bring these bills together. I hope that the minority will, in fact, engage in the conference portion of this piece of legislation because we have tried to engage them over and over outside of the committee structure to be able to give them an opportunity to give us another offset, another way to fund this particular piece of legislation, and they have not brought anything to us. So, to me, it's a problem we are trying to solve. We have different ways in which we are trying to accomplish goals.

And I want to put veterans back to work, helping to retrain those, in particular those that are unemployed in this very, very difficult economic time. The overall veterans' unemployment numbers are around 8.1 percent, and we know that the numbers with the OEF/OIF returning veterans are significantly higher.

I don't believe I have any more speakers on this particular piece of legislation, Madam Speaker, and I would reserve the balance of my time.

Will the gentleman yield?

If there are a hundred ways to perfect the piece of legislation, why have you and the minority party not offered one, not one time in our committee? And you and I have tried very diligently during the preceding months in this Congress to try to be able to keep as nonpartisan as we possibly can, but not one time have you offered anything other than rhetoric to attempt to perfect this bill. Why haven't you offered any amendments?

I do support goals.

I do support goals.

I support creating jobs.

We continue to have no more speakers and would reserve the balance of our time until such time as the minority wishes to close.

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from California for the lively debate.

I would remind my colleagues that this piece of legislation did pass out of our committee with bipartisan support, 17-5.

I would like to enter into the Record the following letters of support from various organizations:

Military Officers Association

of America,

Alexandria, VA, July 14, 2011.

Hon. Jeff Miller,

Chairman, Committee on Veterans Affairs, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Miller: On behalf of the 370,000 members of

the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), I am

writing to thank you for your leadership in introducing H.R.

2433, The Veterans Opportunity to Work Act.

H.R. 2433 would re-open Vietnam Era GI Bill educational

benefits to certain veterans who have been chronically

unemployed, mandate attendance in the Transition Assistance

Program (TAP), require the Defense and Departments of Labor

to track outcome measures for TAP participants, re-authorize

a pilot program to link military acquired skills to civilian

jobs through licensing and certification, and for other

purposes.

MOAA recommends including a provision in the bill to

require outreach by the VA to unemployed veterans who may be

eligible for the GI Bill benefits authorized in Title I of

the legislation. We would also recommend adoption of

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) program

adjustments and other employment-related features in the

Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, H.R. 1941.

MOAA pledges its full support for early enactment of H.R.

1941 and respectfully requests including this letter in the

record of any hearing to consider or mark-up this important

legislation.

Sincerely,

Norb Ryan.

I also ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2433, as amended.

I once again encourage all Members to support this

legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2074) to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents and other safety incidents that occur at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 2074, as amended, the Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention and Health Care Enhancement Act. The bill before us is, in fact, a bipartisan product of many months worth of oversight on behalf of our Health Subcommittee. It's derived from numerous proposals championed by Members from both sides of the aisle to improve the care and the services provided to our veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Of special note is a provision introduced by our Health Subcommittee chairwoman, Ms. Ann Marie Buerkle, and myself. This provision would address the findings of a Government Accountability Office report detailing the high prevalence of sexual assault incidents at VA medical facilities and the very serious failures in accountability on the part of VA leadership.

As I've said before, just one assault, just one assault of this nature, one sexual predator or one veteran's rights being violated within the VA is one too many.

I am grateful to my good friend, the ranking member, Mr. Filner, and the Health Subcommittee Chairwoman, Ann Marie Buerkle and Ranking Member Mike Michaud for the leadership that they have shown in bringing this legislation forward to strengthen the VA health care system for our veteran heroes.

I now yield such time as she may consume to my good friend and colleague from New York, Chairwoman Buerkle, to further discuss the provisions of H.R. 2074, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I associate myself with the comments of my colleague. It is egregious that there have been so many sexual assaults that have, in fact, gone unreported by the VA. I would encourage my good friend and his colleagues to work with us and provide amendments in any way that they see important to help bills like this strengthen the reporting requirements and to help us in an oversight and investigative response of this Congress, which is trying to do more on the oversight and investigative side. The last Congress did very little, and even those under Republican administrations did very little.

We're trying to reengage the oversight and investigation side, and I think that it is very important that we work together; and I do commend my good friend for his outrage on this particular report that came out, and I will work with him in any way possible.

With that, I yield such time as he may consume to my good friend from the Staten Island area of New York, the 13th Congressional District, Congressman Grimm.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the 31st District of Texas (Mr. Carter).

I have no further requests for time.

Madam Speaker, I commit to working with the ranking member on the further reporting of these incidents. I would add that this particular piece of legislation does, in fact, incorporate every single recommendation that the GAO gave to this committee in their report.

General Leave

I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2302) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress of conferences sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 2302, as amended. It amends title 38, United States Code, that directs the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress of certain conferences sponsored by the VA. It's a good government bill. It provides additional transparency. It shifts VA and Department of Defense GI Bill reporting requirements from chapter 30 to chapter 33.

This legislation is sponsored by the chairman of our Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman). My thanks go out to him as well as the ranking member, Mr. Filner, and also the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Braley of Iowa, for their efforts.

With that, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman), chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2302, as amended.

I once again encourage all my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2349) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to annually assess the skills of certain employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

I support strongly H.R. 2349, as amended, the Veterans' Benefits Training Improvement Act of 2011. It was created by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan). It also was worked on in collaboration with the ranking member of that subcommittee, the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney).

To describe H.R. 2349, as amended, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan).

I have no more speakers, if the gentleman is ready to close.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, what we owe the United States' people is the truth.

The truth is that the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved under Democrat leadership this exact language under the past two Congresses. In fact, what my good friend, the ranking member, wants to do is to give a bureaucrat within VA the opportunity to adjudicate somebody mentally incompetent. Now they do have the ability to say they are not able to control their finances. What this act in the legislation does is it says they cannot do it without the order or finding of a judge, a magistrate, or other judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such a person is in danger to himself or to others. I do not believe that a bureaucrat within the Department of Veterans Affairs has that ability nor that authority, and I think that judges need to do it. So we do agree on that particular instance.

General Leave

I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

With that, I urge all of my colleagues to support this outstanding piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Alvin ``Al'' Coby after 27 years of service to the City of Pensacola, Florida.

Mr. Coby's service to our nation began in 1971 when he joined the few and the proud to become a United States Marine. Upon completion of the Officer Basic Course in Quantico, Virginia, he reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, where he began his flight training. Upon earning his wings, he was selected to fly the F-4 ``Phantom''. Mr. Coby served three tours as a Marine aviator in Vietnam, before returning to the ``Cradle of Aviation'' in 1978 to serve as a flight instructor. Under his leadership and expertise, many brave men and women were trained as pilots who went on to serve during the Cold War and in Iraq, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and across the globe.

After eleven years of military service, Al Coby departed active duty. He then attended graduate school at the University of West Florida and joined the City of Pensacola in 1984 as Assistant City Manager. Mr. Coby has served the City of Pensacola in various capacities, including Community Redevelopment Director, Assistant City Manager and City Manager. During his tenure with the City, he also served as a member of two state appointed boards, as well as numerous local boards and committees. Currently, he is a member of the Sacred Heart Hospital Advisory Board, the Downtown Rotary, and the Boy Scouts of America Gulf Coast Council.

In 2004, Hurricane Ivan devastated the panhandle of Florida, and Mr. Coby became an integral part of the recovery process. His tireless dedication to rebuilding homes and businesses in Pensacola is a true testament to his character. In 2010, with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affecting residents and businesses in the Gulf Coast region, Mr. Coby organized a team of City employees to focus on recovery and long- term development. He led the recovery team with distinction, and his hard work and dedication helped to ensure that the City of Pensacola was prepared to respond quickly and effectively to this unprecedented disaster.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I congratulate Mr. Coby on his retirement and thank him for his faithful and selfless service to this great Nation and to the Northwest Florida community. My wife Vicki and I wish him and his family all the best.