Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 970, the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025.

Mr. Speaker, just a few short years ago we increased the maximum coverage amount under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program and the Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) program from $400,000 to $500,000. Prior to that, however, those maximum coverage amounts had not been increased since 2005, clearly failing to keep pace with inflation.

To ensure that we are not waiting another decade or more to improve this benefit for our servicemembers and veterans, my good friend Representative Marilyn Strickland has introduced this bill which requires the VA to periodically review coverage amounts every 5 years and report to Congress what the level of benefits would be if adjusted for inflation over that period. This will allow Congress to regularly make a more informed decision about whether or not these maximum coverage amounts should be increased.

Mr. Speaker, this is commonsense legislation that allows Congress to better do our job to support servicemembers, veterans, and their families. This legislation passed the House last Congress, and I encourage my colleagues to support it once again.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the State of Washington (Ms. Strickland), my good friend and author of this bill. She currently serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 970, the Fairness for Servicemembers and Their Families Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to be present for votes on Monday, March 31, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 84 and YEA on Roll Call No. 85.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this partisan Republican spending bill because it guts the Honoring our PACT Act and abandons veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins. House Republicans claim to support the Honoring our PACT Act, but their actions tell a different story.

They are eliminating the funding for Honoring our PACT Act recipients starting in October, cutting off critical healthcare and benefits for those who sacrificed for this country. Last Congress, Democrats forced Republicans to fully fund this critical program.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans are taking Elon's chain saw to it, slashing $23 billion and breaking our Nation's sacred promise to our veterans. Where you invest your money shows what you truly value. By gutting this funding, Republicans have made their priorities clear.

Mr. Speaker, I stand with our veterans. I stand firm in our priorities and promises, and I will not stand by while Republicans rip them apart.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this partisan Republican spending bill.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 71.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McGovern for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution. I am here as the ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to represent the interests of our Nation's veterans when they are callously being targeted.

While our colleagues across the aisle are determined to shift the public narrative away from the harm being done to veterans, we choose to focus on what our President failed to address last night. He spent an hour and 40 minutes touting his so-called accomplishments while veterans watching at home were waiting for answers, answers and explanations they never received.

While President Trump was addressing us last night on this very House floor, movements were being made by the Chief of Staff for Veterans Affairs, Christopher Syrek, to execute a detrimental reduction in force at VA. With the support of this administration, VA plans to move forward with firing an additional 83,000 VA employees.

Sitting in the audience of President Trump's address were 20 veterans who had been indiscriminately fired from Federal agencies, veterans he failed to address. Not once during his speech was he able to look them in the eyes and speak to the merciless effects his administration's decisions have made on their community. He didn't attempt to justify them because he knows there is no justification.

Our veterans served our Nation. They put their lives on the line for us and this country's values, and now look at what they are facing. They are facing attacks on their benefits. They are facing attacks on their healthcare, education, and housing. When we reduce

an agency established to work for them, we fail them.

I stand behind Congressman Green as he stood up for the rights of all veterans and all Americans.

Madam Chair, as the ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I rise today in complete opposition to the Republican rip-off budget resolution.

Let's be clear: This is a tax break for billionaires like Elon Musk paid for by working people, including millions of our veterans. The Republican rip-off cuts at least $880 billion from Medicaid, the program that 80 million Americans, including 9 million veterans, rely on for health insurance coverage.

This extreme budget also cuts $230 billion from SNAP. Every year, SNAP helps almost 43 million Americans, including over 1 million veterans, put food on the table.

Republicans aren't just going to leave American veterans without healthcare or make them go hungry. They also want to take a chain saw to VA, attacking the very people who provide care to the veterans who have served our country with honor.

This is completely unacceptable, and I urge every Member to oppose this abomination of a resolution that uses veterans as a piggy bank to pay for a billionaire tax break.

Mr. Speaker, Black history has shaped our country, and I am proud to celebrate Black History Month with my Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus colleagues.

The coalition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, and Black Americans has worked hand-in-hand for generations to advance racial equality. That coalition was on full display during Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 when he wore a lei gifted to him by Reverend Abraham Akaka of Hawaii.

It existed even on the battlefield. Senator Daniel Inouye was a proud and decorated member of the legendary 442nd Infantry Regiment. He recalled how he sustained injuries in combat, which resulted in the loss of his arm, and that it was soldiers from the 92nd Division, a segregated African-American unit, who provided him with the blood for the 17 transfusions that kept him alive.

AANHPI history and Black history are inextricably tied together and, in the case of Senator Inouye, a blood bond uniting our two communities together.

Mr. Speaker, if you were approached on the street by a stranger and asked for your Social Security number, your home address, or your bank account information, you would say no. When the government asks for this information in order to process Social Security checks or a refund, Americans say yes because there is an expectation of privacy and trust.

Mr. Speaker, they trust that their information won't fall into the hands of bad actors. They trust that their information will be secure with people who are qualified, vetted, and who have been proven worthy of having access to our sensitive data.

This administration has allowed this trust to be broken. I was quick to cosponsor the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to protect the Nation's payment system from reckless and unlawful interference.

It would require anyone who is accessing this system to have a reliable track record of professional service, the necessary security clearance, made an ethics commitment, and has no conflicts of interest.

I will note that The New York Times reports that Elon Musk will make no public disclosure of any conflicts of interest in his financial disclosure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Rancho Verde Crimson Regiment from Moreno Valley and their participation in the Rose Parade on January 1, 2025. This marks the second time that the Rancho Verde Crimson Regiment has participated in this iconic event in California.

As a former high school educator, I know firsthand the dedication, discipline, and talent required to perform at this level. I congratulate all of the students and the band director, Honglac Hathuc, for their hard work and successful performance.

I also wish to recognize the citizens who inhabit the Val Verde Unified School District for supporting, with their taxpayer dollars, the tremendous music education program that begins in the elementary schools.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the actions coming out of the White House are shocking, alarming, and unconstitutional. We have seen an unelected billionaire attempt to lay off, fire, and purge Federal employees from across the executive branch. No agency or department is safe, not even the department taking care of veterans.

As the ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have been quick to warn employees at the VA not to fall for the recent attempt from Musk to buy out employees. I have warned VA employees and providers. Elon Musk thinks they are stupid and won't see through his deceptive and fraudulent buyout offer.

VA employees should ignore his email and send it to the trash bin. The Trump administration is playing a dangerous game with their livelihoods and veterans' lives.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has a mandate to ensure that veterans with visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive impairments can still apply and receive care. The Trump administration put an end to that mission to reach out to veterans with visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive impairments. He put an end to that mission in the fervor to get rid of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in Federal agencies.

Yes, diversity, equity, and inclusion include veterans with visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive impairments. So far, 60 employees with the mission of reaching out to these very veterans with unique challenges, to encourage them to apply for VA benefits, have been put on leave. They have been put on leave. We are talking about veterans with visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive impairments.

The Federal hiring freeze initiated on President Trump's first day in office has left approximately 700 open positions that cannot be filled. These are 700 opportunities to increase veterans' access to care that will instead stay unfilled.

What is even more shocking is that my Republican colleagues have stayed silent while veterans' care is being impacted by DOGE.

Mr. Speaker, I challenge my Republican colleagues who sit idly by to stand up to the richest man in the world. Stand up to this would-be autocrat. Stand up to this bloodless coup. Stand up for Federal workers and your constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave firefighters who have stepped into the breach to take on the fires raging across southern California. Their bravery has been on full display these past weeks, including in my own district, where they have valiantly and swiftly responded in Jurupa Valley to the Clay fire.

We all owe them our thanks.

Nevertheless, I am deeply troubled by some in the Republican Conference who are seeking to link emergency disaster aid to my home State with toxic policy goals. This would be a disaster.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass emergency aid without policy riders, just as we did for the people in North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and many other States who have faced natural disasters.

Leveraging the losses of thousands establishes a dangerous precedent. It is unacceptable for politicians in Washington to endanger Americans' survival for their own political gain.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong, unequivocal opposition to H.R. 28, the Republican child predator empowerment act. This bill lets politicians in Washington dictate to parents, school districts, and athletic associations across the country who can and cannot participate in their local sports leagues.

It creates a one-size-fits-all policy that holds a kindergartner wanting to play soccer to the same standards as an elite athlete.

This legislation undermines the very values we hold dear as Americans--fairness, opportunity, and the belief in the power of local communities to make decisions for themselves.

Even conservative Governors in States like Indiana and Utah recognized this and vetoed some of these bills.

Just as troubling, the bill's language opens the door to invasive, degrading, and humiliating physical examinations of children, children who simply want to play softball or join a basketball team.

Mr. Speaker, our communities thrive when every child can be part of a team, learn sportsmanship, and challenge themselves. They falter when we write exclusion and fear into our laws.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Master Gunnery Sergeant Arthur ``Artie'' Allen, III for his unwavering service to our Nation and his exemplary commitment to veterans and the community. Throughout his distinguished 26-year career in the United States Marine Corps, Artie has demonstrated remarkable leadership, sacrifice, and dedication. Upon retiring from active duty, he has continued his legacy of service through an extraordinary range of volunteerism, outreach, and community involvement.

Artie's professional affiliations include roles such as Chairman and District 3 Appointee of the Riverside County Veterans' Advisory Committee, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Life Member & Trustee of Post 4089, Temecula Valley, and Life Member of the Marine Corps League, Southwest Riverside County Detachment 1057. His commitment to veterans and their families is exemplified through his involvement with the Veterans Experience Committee at VA Loma Linda Medical Center & Healthcare System and his service as a Docent for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Museum Foundation.

In addition to his professional contributions, Artie has dedicated countless hours to volunteerism, serving as a key figure in numerous veterans' organizations and community outreach programs. From participating in ``Buddy Poppy'' drives, organizing events for the City of Menifee, and volunteering at Homeless Veterans Stand Downs, to his involvement with ``Homes For Our Troops'' and numerous Veterans Expos, Artie's tireless efforts have positively impacted the lives of veterans, active military, and their families.

Artie has also been recognized for his volunteerism with awards such as the President's Volunteer Service Award at both the Bronze and Silver levels and the prestigious Riverside Area Veteran Honoree Program award. His leadership in the veteran community and his dedication to preserving the stories and legacies of service members is further illustrated through his work with ``King High Remembers'' and various speaking engagements.

After years of dedicated service, both in uniform and in his community, I am pleased to wish Master Gunnery Sergeant Arthur Allen, III a happy and well-deserved retirement. His lifelong commitment to our country and our veterans is an inspiration to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing and celebrating the life, service, and contributions of Master Gunnery Sergeant Arthur ``Artie'' Allen, III. We thank him for his sacrifices, his leadership, and his ongoing legacy of service to our great Nation. Happy retirement, Artie.

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

I rise to express my support for S. 5314, a bill to designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center, introduced by Senator Lankford of Oklahoma.

This legislation is a fitting tribute to the long and dedicated service of former U.S. Senator James Inhofe, whose legacy is defined by his unwavering commitment to serving Oklahoma's veterans and ensuring that they receive the care and services they have earned.

Born and raised in Tulsa, Senator Inhofe served in the Army before becoming a Senator. He demonstrated a lifelong commitment to service to his community until his death earlier this year.

As we continue to make investments and support construction projects to improve veterans' access to care at VA facilities, we will remember Senator Inhofe's tireless support of the new VA facility that is currently under construction and that will soon bear his name.

Mr. Speaker, I support S. 5314 and ask that my colleagues do the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S. 5314 to designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for S. 3938, a bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic. I thank my colleague Senator Warner for introducing it.

Private First Class Doss served with extraordinary courage during many of World War II's fiercest battles. His actions saved the lives of hundreds of his fellow soldiers, despite never being an active combatant, and his story is nothing short of heroic. I am proud to support this bill to honor his service.

The son of a decorated World War I veteran, Mr. Doss was raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, as a devout Seventh-day Adventist. A cornerstone of his faith was pacificism, but despite this, he enlisted into the Army in April of 1942 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

During our Nation's darkest hour, he made the patriotic decision to balance his religious belief in nonviolence with a calling to protect his Nation by pursuing a nonarmed role as an Army medic. Assigned to 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 307th Infantry Division, Private First Class Doss soon found himself in some of the Pacific theater's most intense combat. Notably, he was awarded two Bronze Star

Medals for exceptional valor in Guam and the Philippines, aiding wounded soldiers under fire.

Private First Class Doss and the members of the 77th Infantry Division were assigned a major role during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, the bloodiest conflict in the Pacific. The nearly 3-month-long battle resulted in roughly 49,000 American casualties, including 13,000 servicemembers who were killed in action.

Private First Class Doss demonstrated extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Okinawa, saving upwards of over 100 soldiers over the course of the conflict while routinely placing himself in the line of fire. Many of the casualties he saved were during operations during the notorious Maeda Escarpment, commonly called Hacksaw Ridge.

Time and again in the conflict, Private First Class Doss exposed himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire to provide aid to wounded soldiers and evacuate them to safety.

Even when Private First Class Doss sustained his own injuries, he never gave up on providing aid to his fellow soldiers. While tending to wounded soldiers during a night raid, Private First Class Doss was seriously wounded in the legs from a grenade blast. To avoid having another medic risk his life to save him, he valiantly cared for his own wounds and waited 5 hours before a medical evacuation team could reach him.

Noticing a critically wounded soldier nearby, Private First Class Doss crawled off the litter he was laying on and ensured his evacuation team cared for that man first. In all, Private First Class Doss saved the lives of 75 wounded infantrymen.

For his tremendous bravery and heroism, Private First Class Doss was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman on October 12, 1945.

The immense courage, sacrifice, and patriotism that Private First Class Doss displayed while serving in the Pacific theater are in many ways unfathomable.

As a nation, we owe him a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid, but we should commit to honoring his legacy. I can think of no better way to ensure that his service is remembered for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I support this important piece of legislation, and I ask that my colleagues do the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S. 3938 to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic, and I yield back the balance of my time.