Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment simply states that none of the funds made available by this act may be used to retire, divest, or transfer--or to prepare to retire, divest or transfer--the KC-10.

During my time in Congress, I have been a strong supporter of the Air Force's new tanker, the KC-46A. We must bring a new tanker online, but during the transition, it is critical that we are able to meet all mission requirements.

This is why I am strongly concerned by the Air Force's proposal to do a possible vertical cut of the KC-10 tanker and retire it. Having a mission capability shortfall by eliminating the newest tanker currently in our inventory while the KC-46A comes online is simply unacceptable.

As many of you are aware, I am proud to have Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst in my district, and my colleague Mr. Garamendi has Travis Air Force Base in California, which are both home to the KC-10. This is not parochial. It is an air refueling and air mobility mission readiness issue.

The KC-10 platform has more than proved itself as a workhorse in support of air refueling and air mobility in Iraq, Afghanistan, our homeland defense, and other missions as called upon.

Unlike other tankers in our inventory, it can refuel Air Force, Navy, and international military aircraft with its dual boom and hose-and- drogue systems. The KC-10 itself can also be refueled while in flight, helping extend our global reach.

Most importantly, this aircraft is critical to providing an air bridge across the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific routes to support our combatant commanders.

This amendment sends a message to the Air Force and the DOD that Congress remains committed to active oversight of our air refueling mission platforms and sufficient capacity to support our warfighters.

I want to thank the chairman, the members of the subcommittee, and the staff for working with me on this important amendment. I would particularly highlight our appreciation for the strong support Chairman Frelinghuysen has shown for the KC-10 platform, and his concern for ensuring there is no mission gap for our military's air refueling needs.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for those kind words, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his comments on that. And I will just tell the committee that I have had many conversations with the Air Force about this exact issue, and to be able to take a capability away from what we can do in our global reach and not have a legitimate answer in the near future I think would be devastating to what we can do and how we can project power globally.

So the readiness issue has not been answered, and I think this is a step in the right direction to make sure that our national security is at the forefront. So, with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment moves $6 million to Air Force Other Procurement to provide for a much-needed joint training platform and for facility upgrades. More specifically, the funding is aimed at supporting upgrades to joint training and training development facilities at Air Force installations. The offset for this amendment reduces the amount allocated for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Over the last decade, many of the service branches have procured various training systems and infrastructure that are in desperate need of repair. These are not expensive upgrades, and they will preserve the shelf life of some of the most state-of-the-art training systems in the United States military. My amendment seeks to increase the Air Force procurement funding to provide for critical upgrades for these underfunded systems, technologies, and training infrastructure.

We have made great investments in our joint training aids and support systems to ensure our servicemembers are combat ready and proficient at a low cost for high value to the taxpayer. It would be a shame to see these assets atrophy from the withholding of what is a relatively small amount in comparison to our initial investments in these programs.

I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this commonsense amendment and support our warfighters.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 20th anniversary of National Men's Health Week (NMHW), which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1994. NMHW was legislation sponsored by Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Bill Richardson and is celebrated each year during the week that ends on Father's Day.

Recognizing that many health problems that affect men can be prevented, the week was designed to encourage men, boys and their families to develop positive health attitudes, engage in preventive behaviors, lead healthy lifestyles, and seek timely medical advice and care.

As co-chair of the Congressional Men's Health Caucus, I am proud to celebrate this week and help raise awareness of health issues that affect men, boys, and their families.

This week I participated in the Men's Health Network's health screenings that were being offered to Members and their staff. It is so important that we encourage men to be proactive about their health so that they can live longer and healthier lives. I applaud the Men's Health Network for helping to raise awareness right here on Capitol Hill.

As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of National Men's Health Week, we are reminded of how far our country has come in improving the health and well-being of men and boys, but there is still a lot of work left to be done.

Mr. Speaker, this week, along with the entire month of June (Men's Health Month), provides an excellent opportunity to focus on ways that we and our loved ones can live healthier, longer lives.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to honor the outstanding career of Detective Mike Mitchell, who is retiring after 25 years with the Barnegat Police Department.

Detective Mitchell is beloved within the Barnegat community and he is best known for starting and running the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance and Education) program in the Barnegat Township Schools, which is currently in its 20th year. The D.A.R.E. program has graduated over 6,000 5th grade students and has had a tremendous impact in helping raise awareness on drug abuse.

Mike is an active volunteer in the community, particularly with Challenger Baseball and Basketball.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the amazing career and community service of Detective Mike Mitchell.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment, which is cosponsored by Representative Barber, states that none of the funds made available by this act may be used to propose, to plan for, or to execute a new or an additional round of BRAC.

There is no doubt that we recognize the defense budget pressures that we face today in this fiscal environment, and we should direct our limited dollars to addressing the current mission, infrastructure, and readiness needs in support of our warfighters. Based on the cost of previous Base Realignment and Closure, a new round of base closures will likely entail large up-front costs and will end up costing much more than originally estimated. For example, the GAO says that the last BRAC in 2005 had an actual cost of $35.1 billion. That is an approximately 67 percent increase from the September 2005 BRAC Commission's original cost estimate of $21 billion.

I know many Members of this Chamber want Congress to continue to have the close oversight of our military installations and infrastructure. This bipartisan amendment ensures that we can do that. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, which helps ensure that the funds in this bill address current needs, rather than to support a new round of BRAC.

I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Barber, for offering this amendment with me, and I thank the chairman and the members of the subcommittee for working with me on this important issue.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today deeply saddened by the recent news of the passing of Kathy Snyder, a long-time teacher and coach at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Kathy devoted her entire professional life to the students of Southern Regional, and was beloved by everyone throughout the community.

Kathy, a breast cancer survivor, began teaching physical education at Southern Regional in 1977 and coached both the girl's varsity basketball and field hockey teams. Before she passed away, Kathy was in the midst of her 35th season coaching the girl's basketball team, and had hit the 500-win milestone in 2010. On the field hockey field, Snyder won more than 300 games and was named The Press Coach of the Year in 2011.

Kathy was a resilient, competitive coach who fought for women's equality in sports, and it was she who helped pave the way for the thousands of female athletes who competed in the Shore Conference. Kathy's colleagues, students and athletes loved and respected her as a coach, role model, and friend.

Mrs. Snyder was a legend at Southern Regional High School and my thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. Kathy is survived by her husband Ken, three children--Brandon, Erin and Morgan, and granddaughter, Waverly. This is a devastating loss for the Southern Regional community.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in remembering the amazing life and legacy of Mrs. Kathy Snyder.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Miller for yielding me this time.

I rise today in strong support of S. 893, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013. This bill is a companion bill to H.R. 569, which I introduced earlier this year in the House of Representatives. H.R. 569 was included in H.R. 357, which passed the House Veterans' Affairs Committee earlier this year.

S. 893 provides a cost-of-living adjustment to veterans' disability compensation, survivors' dependency and indemnity compensation, and other benefits.

Mr. Speaker, many disabled veterans depend on these benefits to make ends meet, and this bill will assist these veterans as the cost-of- living continues to increase.

While I am very supportive of this bill, I would like to once again state that it is unfortunate that we have to be here to pass this bill each and every year. That is why I introduced H.R. 570, the American Heroes COLA Act, which would authorize a COLA every year without congressional action. This would ensure that the COLA for the most deserving Americans is not tied to action or inaction in Washington.

The House passed H.R. 570 earlier this year, and I remain hopeful that our colleagues in the Senate will follow suit so we can provide this needed benefit to veterans and their families without having to wait on Congress to act.

Once again, I thank Chairman Miller and the House leadership for bringing this important legislation to the floor. I urge all of my colleagues to fully support S. 893.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Miller for yielding to me.

As chairman of the House Veterans' Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, I am keenly aware that one of the most critical issues impacting our Nation's veterans is the severe veterans' claims backlog.

Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported it had a backlog of more than 400,000 veterans' benefits claims as the fiscal year ended in September. This is simply unacceptable. To help speed up the veterans' claims process, we must look at every phase of that process.

One of the first steps in this process is the medical exam to determine benefit eligibility. That is why earlier this year I introduced H.R. 2423, the Disabled Veterans' Access to Medical Exams Improvement Act, provisions of which are now contained within section 201 of H.R. 2189. This section would extend the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct veterans' medical disability evaluations.

With the passage of this bill, this successful program allowing physicians outside the VA to conduct contract examinations would continue for an additional 3 years, until 2016. This would allow VA to more quickly evaluate veterans' disabilities and facilitate quicker access to the care they need.

Second, this bill would also extend license portability to contract examination providers, meaning that physicians with an active State license may provide C&P exams in other States because they are working on behalf of the Federal Government. Although the VA and DOD already provide license portability for physicians working directly for them, this authority is not extended to contract examination providers. This provision is designed to facilitate the C&P examination process by allowing contract physicians the flexibility to travel and assist in areas that are experiencing lengthy delays in scheduling examinations.

Finally, this piece of legislation would also expand the number of VA regional offices that would utilize contract examinations from 10 to 15. These medical examinations are a key component of the disability claims process. By expanding the authority and scope of the contract examinations process, veterans would receive the necessary medical evidence for their claim in a timely manner.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.

This would reduce overall claim development and processing time, resulting in the faster issuance of a final decision for the claim.

I support H.R. 2189, as amended to include my provision, and encourage all Members to support this important bill for veterans.

Thank you, Chairman Miller, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have sponsored H.R. 733, the Access to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act, with my good friend and colleague, Mr. Tim Walz of Minnesota. This legislation is included as section 3 of H.R. 1405 and would provide certain local and State government employees access to case-tracking information through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

There is no doubt that we have a responsibility to veterans to ensure that every effort is made to simplify the claims process. Key to this effort are the County Service Veterans Officers, whose expertise in claims development

helps veterans in New Jersey and in communities all across America.

Veterans are often frustrated, as they ask for help from a county service officer, that this person acting on their behalf cannot directly access even the most basic information about the status of their claim. However, while looking to remedy that complication and broaden access to case-tracking information, consideration must also be given to the protection of veterans' private information. That is the balance that this bill strikes.

Mr. Speaker, I support section 3 of H.R. 1405, along with all the other provisions contained within the bill, and I encourage all Members to join me in support of the legislation.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak in opposition to the proposed cuts to Amtrak in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2014.

Amtrak is a vital need for constituents from my home state of New Jersey and to people all along the eastern seaboard. Each day, thousands of passengers take to the railways and ridership on Amtrak has continued to grow over the past several years. Now is not the time to cut their funding.

These proposed cuts in THUD could cripple the railroad system, requiring cuts to maintenance and equipment replacement, which could jeopardize the safety of the thousands of Amtrak riders each day.

Once again, I would like to reiterate how heavily my constituents rely on Amtrak for their traveling needs and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together and oppose the cuts included in this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1300) to amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuges, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the legislation that I have, H.R. 1300, which would reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships at National Wildlife Refuges from FY15 to FY17.

Volunteers are the backbone of our National Wildlife Refuge system. In

fact, in FY12, volunteers contributed 1,594,246 hours of work at the wildlife refuges across the country. The value of this work, estimated at $21.79 per hour, has an overall value contribution to FY12 estimated to be over $34 million.

With this annual authorized appropriation of just $2 million, we have received a value of return on investment of over 17 times. This kind of return on investment sets an example of how to effectively leverage a limited government investment.

The simple fact of the matter is that refuges cannot remain open without the contribution of volunteers and community groups. Volunteers currently contribute more than 20 percent of all refuge work, an equivalent to 766 full-time employees.

Volunteers have also allowed visitors centers to remain open during sequestration. As a result of volunteer work, the Fish and Wildlife Service has recently stated, ``There are no immediate plans to close volunteer and education centers for sustained periods of time because of sequestration.''

My home district in New Jersey is home to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, which benefits from one of the best community volunteer programs in the country, The Friends of Forsythe. I have seen firsthand the invaluable contribution these volunteers make at Forsythe, and know that the refuge cannot continue to operate without the contributions of these volunteers.

I urge passage of H.R. 1300.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, my budget-neutral amendment, authored with my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), who was going to be here on the floor today but is attending Senator Lautenberg's memorial service this afternoon, supports our Nation's firefighters in two critical ways.

The FIRE and SAFER grant programs are two need-based, Department of Homeland Security-administered programs that go directly to local fire departments throughout the country. This amendment supports volunteer and career firefighters by giving them resources to purchase highly specialized equipment necessary to carry out their mission.

Mr. Chair, we all recognize the budget pressures facing our Federal Government and the need to prioritize where our tax dollars are spent. FIRE and SAFER grants are a very important partnership with local fire departments and invest in our communities and increase the safety of our constituents.

For that reason, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment, which helps to ensure firefighters have the resources they need.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

My amendment is actually very similar to what Representative Cassidy had on the floor about an hour ago. My amendment would delay the increase in National Flood Insurance Program premiums in New Jersey and New York until the end of FY 2014. It does so through prohibiting funding for the implementation of section 207 of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act with regards to the States of New York and New Jersey.

New Jersey and New York suffered unprecedented damages during Hurricane Sandy. Many of these coastal residents in New Jersey and New York are still struggling to rebuild and now are staring down huge increases in flood insurance premiums due to the provisions of the Biggert-Waters Act. The people of New Jersey and New York have suffered enough and cannot afford to pay skyrocketing premiums in the middle of the rebuilding process. The least we can do is give them a reprieve, a little peace of mind, until the end of the 2014 fiscal year.

I would like to thank Mr. King and Mr. LoBiondo for working with me on this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Thank you, Chairman Miller, for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 671, as amended, is known as the Ruth Moore Act of 2013.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, I am pleased once again that our subcommittee worked in a productive and bipartisan manner on this important bill for our Nation's servicemembers. I also applaud the leadership shown by Ms. Pingree in sponsoring this legislation.

Military sexual trauma is a terrible act, a betrayal of trust, and it is not to be tolerated. Furthermore, those veterans who were victimized by their fellow servicemembers are entitled to VA assistance, and they are entitled to a fair and thoughtful review of their claims.

Thus, H.R. 671, as amended, sets stringent reporting requirements and urges the Department of Veterans Affairs to make necessary changes to their regulations on military sexual trauma to ensure their fair review.

I strongly support H.R. 671, as amended, and I urge my colleagues to also support this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment states that none of the funds made available by this act may

be used to propose, plan, or execute a new or an additional round of base realignment and closure, otherwise known as BRAC.

We all recognize the budget pressures we face. A round of BRAC closures now will entail a large up-front cost. We should direct these limited dollars to addressing the current mission and readiness needs supporting our warfighters.

For that reason, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, which helps ensure these funds address current needs. I know that many Members of this Chamber want Congress to continue to have oversight of our base and force structure, and my amendment ensures that we do so.

I thank the chairman and members of the subcommittee for working with me on this important amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.