Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7299) to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to obtain an independent cybersecurity assessment of information systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7299, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 7299, the Strengthening VA Cybersecurity Act of 2022. This bill represents a bipartisan, bicameral effort to oversee the Department of Veterans Affairs' cybersecurity efforts.

This legislation requires independent assessment of the VA's cybersecurity readiness by a federally funded research and development center, or FFRDC.

This bill is necessary because of the poor performance of VA in audits required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, also known as FISMA, and independent audits from the VA OIG on individual VA sites.

The bill also seeks to address the issue of ``shadow IT'' which is has been a priority of the committee this Congress. If VA does not know what is on its networks and can't identify assets being utilized outside of the Office of Information Technology, then VA can't secure it.

VA's repository of veterans' health information needs to be protected. We owe it to veterans to address these challenges now so that Congress and veterans can be assured that VA will secure their personal information.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 7299, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 7299, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7277) to improve the methods by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs identifies health care providers that are not eligible to participate in the Veterans Community Care Program, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7277, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7277, the Improving Oversight of Veterans Community Care Providers Act, as amended, a bill that will take important steps toward ensuring that healthcare providers meet the eligibility requirements and standards of VA's Community Care Program.

I thank Representative Chris Pappas, chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, for his work on this bipartisan bill.

I was disturbed by a recent Government Accountability Office report requested by Chairman Pappas and Ranking Member Tracey Mann, which identified approximately 1,600 healthcare providers who were deceased, ineligible to work with the Federal Government, or who had revoked or suspended medical licenses, yet were still listed as active providers in VA's Community Care networks.

While the number of ineligible providers was a small fraction of the roughly 1.2 million active providers in VA's Community Care networks, they still represented a potential threat to veteran health and safety, and a risk for financial fraud.

Congressman Pappas' bill would require VA to implement GAO's recommendations to ensure veterans and taxpayers are not put at risk.

The bill will modify standard operating procedures at the VA Health Administration and require continuous matching of providers' information against several data sources in order to verify eligibility, such as the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities that the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General maintains, the National Practitioner Data Bank, and the monthly deactivation file of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

This will go a long way toward ensuring that physicians and other providers in VA's Community Care networks meet the basic and necessary standards, such as proper and current licensing requirements.

This bill has the support of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will have no significant impact on direct spending or deficits.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), my good friend, who is the author of this legislation and who serves as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

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

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

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing this important piece of legislation, H.R. 7277, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2250) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the management of information technology projects and investments of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 2250, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Reform Act requires VA to report on the cost, schedule, and performance information for major information technology projects. A major information technology project is a project that exceeds $500 million in total life cycle costs.

H.R. 2250, as amended, also requires VA to ensure that each major IT project is managed by an interdisciplinary team. The bill is necessary due to the numerous issues that the VA has had with technology modernization and management of its major IT programs. This bill provides Congress with key information to conduct proper oversight over those programs.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill. I urge all my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that I know this Congress, the 117th Congress, is coming to a close and I may not see you up on the rostrum and the dais again, I wanted to say mahalo for your service in our military, mahalo for your service to the people of Hawaii, mahalo for your service to the American people.

I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 2250, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I honor the life and lasting legacy of an

LGBTQ pioneer in my district, David St. Pierre.

David was the longtime owner of The Menagerie, a welcoming LGBTQ nightclub and restaurant in downtown Riverside.

Since taking ownership in 1999, David made it his purpose to cultivate an inclusive safe haven for the LGBTQ community of Riverside and the surrounding Inland Empire, while adding in a touch of fun, lively entertainment.

He did that for just over 20 years. With his passion for throwing an extravagant party, his experience in generating crowd enthusiasm as the host of many events, and a keen eye for craft and style from his background in theater, David was always the life of a fabulous time.

He made a name for himself within the LGBTQ community and was highly regarded for standing up to hate crimes and injustice and declaring that homophobia will have zero tolerance in our community.

In the words of Harvey Milk, ``I know you can't live on hope alone, but without hope, life is not worth living.'' David, you gave our community hope, hope to live freely, be accepted, and continue to fight for LGBTQ rights. You will be greatly missed but never forgotten. On behalf of the constituents of California's 41st Congressional District, thank you for your commitment to the LGBTQ community and to our community as a whole.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3304) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide or assist in providing an additional vehicle adapted for operation by disabled individuals to certain eligible persons, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3304, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3304, as amended, the AUTO for Veterans Act.

I was proud to join Representative Lizzie Fletcher in introducing H.R. 3304, and I thank her for her tireless work with the veteran community, which has led to this bill being considered on the floor today.

Currently, disabled veterans are only allowed a single grant to modify a vehicle to provide them mobility. This means there are cars that are 25, 30, or even 40 years old on the road because the veteran has no other option.

When you consider that the average life of an automobile is less than 12 years, we are asking veterans to incur additional costs and risks by driving excessively old cars for decades.

The AUTO for Veterans Act finally expands eligibility for disabled veterans to obtain vehicles modified for their disabilities more than once in their lifetime.

Upon passage into law, H.R. 3304 would immediately allow veterans who have waited decades to acquire a new vehicle and, after giving those veterans priority, would eventually expand the benefit to cover those veterans who updated their vehicle 10 years ago.

This legislation also expands the definition of ``medical services'' to include certain vehicle modifications so that veterans can attend medical appointments.

This legislation has long been a priority for veterans and is supported by DAV, VFW, PVA, and countless other veterans organizations.

This legislation is fully paid for and delivers for disabled veterans who gave us so much.

I thank the ranking member for his support of this legislation. I know we have both wanted to fix this longstanding problem.

Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3304, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8888) to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs an Office of Food Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 8888, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8888, as amended, the Food Security for All Veterans Act.

This bill establishes an office dedicated to ending veteran hunger at the VA that will collaborate with internal and external groups to develop and implement policies and procedures to identify and treat veterans at risk of or experiencing hunger.

Food insecurity can create or exacerbate other health maladies and is one of many contributing factors that has led to increased suicide rates, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Addressing veteran hunger is critical to this committee's suicide prevention efforts.

Madam Speaker, I thank our newest Member from Alaska, Congresswoman Peltola, for taking up this important issue and prioritizing veterans.

The VA has made tremendous strides in its work to end veteran hunger. The VA leads an interagency working group and regularly collaborates with its Federal counterparts on this issue. The VA also instituted a clinical reminder that screens every veteran who receives their care at VA for food insecurity and connects those in need with resources.

However, until recently, these tasks were carried out by VA employees as ancillary duties. There was no staff dedicated solely to addressing veteran hunger. The VA has started the process of building a team that works exclusively on this issue, and Congresswoman Peltola's bill gives the VA the infrastructure and resources to ensure those efforts continue for years to come.

Before the pandemic and still now, Black, Latino, Native American, and Alaska Native veteran families experienced disproportionately high rates of hunger. This bill requires the VA to coordinate with the VA Office of Tribal Government Relations and the Department of the Interior to focus on these communities.

A critical issue this bill intends to affect is the disparity between the VA and USDA data on veteran hunger. The USDA reports about an 11 percent rate of food insecurity among veterans versus the VA, which reports a roughly 2 percent rate among veterans using VA healthcare.

The bill requires VA, in consultation with the USDA, to issue an annual report to Congress on the prevalence of veteran hunger. It also requires the VA to track its progress and success in connecting more veterans with resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Importantly, the Food Security for All Veterans Act mandates the VA collaborates with the Departments of Agriculture and Defense to develop materials for the Transition Assistance Program to help increase access to food resources for families in need as they navigate the military- to-civilian transition.

September is Hunger Action Month, and today, the White House hosted the Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health that will catalyze the public and private sectors around a coordinated strategy to accelerate progress

and drive transformative change in our country to end hunger.

This legislation is endorsed by numerous veterans service organizations and hunger advocacy organizations, including Student Veterans of America, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Food Research & Action Center, Disabled American Veterans, American Federation of Government Employees, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and Blue Star Families.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following letters from MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and the Food Research & Action Center.

[MAZON, Sept. 23, 2022]

Statement for the Record in Support of H.R. 8888 Submitted by MAZON: A

Jewish Response to Hunger

A Jewish Response to Hunger is pleased to share this

statement for the record in support of H.R. 8888, the Food

Security for All Veterans Act. This bill, which would

establish an Office of Food Security at the U.S. Department

of Veterans Affairs, represents a helpful step forward in the

effort to achieve a more comprehensive and lasting solution

to the preventable problem of veteran food insecurity.

Inspired by Jewish values and ideals, MAZON takes to heart

our collective responsibility to care for the vulnerable in

our midst, without judgement or precondition. In the United

States, this responsibility to prevent and respond to hunger

lies centrally with our federal government. The charitable

food sector is in no way equipped to respond to the scope of

food insecurity in America--all of the charitable and faith-

based organizations in this country combined contribute less

than ten percent of all food assistance in this country and

have extremely limited capacity to respond to more than

emergency needs. The food insecurity crisis in our country is

the purview of the federal government and it is impractical,

inefficient, and immoral to abdicate this responsibility and

attempt to outsource the response to a charitable sector that

is already overburdened.

For over 37 years, MAZON has been fighting to end hunger

among all people of all faiths and backgrounds, and for

nearly ten years, we have prioritized addressing the long-

overlooked issue of food insecurity among veterans and

military families. Jewish text and tradition compel us to

honor the dignity of every person, especially those who are

struggling. No matter a person's circumstance, no one

deserves to be hungry. Those who have bravely served to

defend our country especially should never have to be

subjected to the cruel and painful experience of hunger.

The establishment of the Office of Food Security at the

Department of Veterans Affairs that is empowered to

coordinate efforts among VA program offices, provide

information about and help connect veterans to available

nutrition assistance benefits and resources, collaborate with

USDA, Department of Defense, and other federal agencies, and

develop and provide training for professionals who work with

veterans, would be an extremely helpful step forward in the

national effort to address the crisis of veteran food

insecurity.

MAZON has testified before Congress and shared our insights

and recommendations about food insecurity among veteran

households numerous times over the years. Unfortunately, too

little progress has been made during the intervening time.

There have been some positive steps, both programmatically

and through policy change, that have helped; most notably,

the recent adoption of the Hunger Vital Signs screening tool

at all VA outpatient facilities (MAZON has long advocated for

mandatory food insecurity screenings and SNAP eligibility

screening, and application assistance across the VA system;

much more still remains to be done on this front to connect

food insecure veterans with SNAP) and increases to SNAP

benefits through the temporary boost included through COVID-

19-relief legislation and the recent update to the Thrifty

Food Plan by USDA.

It should be noted that, while the temporary boost to SNAP

benefits and other COVID-19 assistance provided by the

federal government helped to alleviate some material hardship

and prevented food insecurity and poverty rates from

dramatically spiking due to the pandemic and associated

economic downturn, the American population--including

veterans--experienced exacerbated challenges that compounded

food insecurity rates and more severe impacts.

These challenges include elevated rates of unemployment

(particularly within the service sector and

disproportionately impacting female employees and people of

color), widespread school closures and the loss of subsidized

school meals, medical emergencies and the associated

financial costs for treatment and lost income from time out

of work), and mental health distress.

We are particularly concerned about the impacts of racial

inequities on veterans and the ongoing tragedy of heightened

suicide rates among veterans. While there is growing public

awareness and concern about both issues, there remains a need

for viable policy proposals to address them. The

disproportionate impact of food insecurity on households of

veterans of color highlight racial inequities that are

perpetuated through public policies and program

implementation. Closing the SNAP participation gap for

veterans and improving the program to better reach and serve

food insecure veterans of color will not only signal a

commitment to meaningful efforts to address racial justice--

it will concretely contribute to those efforts to achieve

greater racial equity in federal policy.

As noted by Dr. Thomas O'Toole during his testimony before

the House Veterans Affairs Committee on January 9, 2020, a

growing body of research sheds light on the relationship

between food insecurity and risk factors for poor mental

health and suicide. A new study on ``Association between Food

Insecurity, Mental Health, and Intentions to Leave the U.S.

Army in a Cross-Sectional Sample of U.S. Soldiers'' by

researchers at the USDA Economic Research Service and the

U.S. Army Public Health Center offers additional insight

about linkages between food insecurity, mental health, and

military service. Contributing to the VA's stated top

clinical priority to end veteran suicide and implement a

comprehensive public health approach to reach all veterans,

the VA must step up to provide leadership around a robust

effort to address veteran food insecurity by proactive SNAP

outreach to veterans both within and outside of the VA

system.

A recommendation made by Dr. Colleen Heflin during her

testimony at the May 27, 2021 House Rules Committee

roundtable examination of the hunger crisis among veterans

and military families holds great promise to decrease the

risk of food insecurity during the transition from military

service to civilian life, when many households are more

likely at risk of food insecurity. MAZON urges Congress to

explore this suggestion for the federal government to provide

a targeted transitional benefit to all families leaving

military service below a certain rank. Such a benefit would

act as a stabilizing mechanism and provide much-needed

additional assistance to veterans and their families during a

time when they may experience a greater level of financial

need. Such a transitional benefit, especially one that

utilizes innovative new technologies for benefit delivery and

personalized communications, opens up opportunities to

proactively assess and respond to the whole-person needs of

veterans by building trust and facilitating connections to

other available resources and comprehensive services. In

addition, MAZON supports the distinct, yet often related,

recommendations by Dr. Heflin to better protect veterans with

disabilities from food insecurity.

MAZON was proud to recently sign a Memorandum of Agreement

with the Veterans Health Administration to work

collaboratively to address veteran food insecurity. While

MAZON is excited about this opportunity to provide input,

contribute resources, and collaborate on innovative program

ideas and solutions, the limited commitments to date by the

VA and slow pace of response to a preventable crisis with

multiple negative consequences is deeply distressing.

Additionally, the sporadic oversight by Congress and the lack

of urgency that has been demonstrated in holding federal

agencies accountable to a proactive, robust, and measurable

solution to ending veteran food insecurity must be rectified.

There is great bipartisan concern in Congress about veteran

food insecurity, but the commitment to mandate and provide

funding for proven solutions has unfortunately not matched

the lofty rhetoric.

It is time to recenter the VA's goals and priorities in the

effort to provide a comprehensive response to veteran food

insecurity. The implicit abdication of responsibility by the

federal government to the charitable sector is unsustainable

and dangerous as it shifts attention away from the need to

strengthen and improve access to SNAP and other federal

programs that serve as the frontline response to veteran food

insecurity.

Success should be measured not by how many food pantries

open at VA centers, but rather by how many food pantries

become unnecessary due to veteran households receiving the

support they need and are entitled to through programs like

SNAP. MAZON urges Congress to step up its leadership as a

vital part of this effort by prioritizing the protection and

improvement of SNAP, supporting innovative and effective ways

to better connect food insecure veterans with federal

nutrition assistance programs (including mandating that VA

facilities conduct on-site SNAP eligibility screenings and

application assistance in addition to the food insecurity

screenings currently conducted), bolstering nutrition

assistance support during transition from active duty to

veteran status, strengthening the supports and removing

barriers for food insecure veterans with disabilities, and

centering the experiences and perspectives of veterans with

lived experiences with food insecurity.

The establishment of the Office of Food Security at the VA

as proposed in H.R. 8888 promises to make a substantial

contribution to coordinating and improving agency efforts and

deepening the impact of the federal response to veteran food

insecurity. This progress is long overdue and should

represent just the next step forward among additional

commitments to come.

Veteran food insecurity--indeed, all food insecurity--is a

solvable problem, and the solution lies in mustering the

political will to prioritize and address it. MAZON welcomes

the opportunity to continue to work with

Congress, with all relevant federal agencies, and with VSOs

and other community partners, to build this political will

and do right by those who have bravely served our country. No

veteran should ever have to worry about being able to feed

themselves or those in their family. We owe them much more

than the half-measures and broken promises of our policies

and programs to date.

Hungry veterans cannot eat another report or hearing

transcript. MAZON urges Congress to enact the recommendations

included in H.R. 8888 and identify additional concrete steps

that Congress and the Administration can take now to end the

crisis of veteran food insecurity. We stand ready with

suggestions and with resolve to work in partnership.

Madam Speaker, I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation and ensure no veteran goes hungry, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Alaska (Mrs. Peltola), my new friend who is a newly elected Member of Congress. I think this is her first piece of legislation to be brought to the floor, and we are proud it is coming out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 8888, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8875) to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility of members of the National Guard for housing loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 8875, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8875, as amended, the Expanding Home Loans for Guard and Reservists Act.

One of the most valuable benefits veterans earn is the VA home loan benefit, which can provide them a head start in their transition to civilian life.

That is why 2 years ago we passed into law an expansion to grant National Guard members credit for the days they serve on Active Duty. However, through oversight and case work we have learned how some veterans are missing out on this benefit.

This legislation makes a technical fix, which updates the law to define eligibility by counting Active Duty for training when guard and reservists are training for things like Special Forces, Aviation, or Linguistics.

These servicemembers deserve eligibility because they are going through the same courses and training as their Active Duty counterparts, taking the same risks, and passing the very same requirements.

Guard and reservists are at a greater disadvantage because they are removed from the civilian workforce for extended periods of time. After their training is complete, they transition back to civilian life, move back home from the base where they were training, find employment, and find a place to live.

This technical fix makes sure that guard and reservists don't miss out on using a great benefit from the VA home loan guarantee service.

I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ryan), our newest Member, for taking up this issue and making veterans a priority. As an added bonus, this fix actually saves the Federal Government money by bringing more borrowers into the attractive low rates of the VA home loan program.

Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, again, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 8875, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5918) to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 5918, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5918, as amended, legislation to ensure veterans can recoup the money they paid into the Montgomery GI Bill.

Under current law, veterans who do not fully access their Montgomery GI Bill can lose out on the payments they made into the program, in some cases totaling up to $1,200.

The Montgomery GI Bill is in the process of being phased out for the more generous Forever GI Bill. Many veterans may not remember the $1,200 they paid into the program in the early days of their service or even be aware that they are entitled to a refund of the unused funds.

The process to reclaim that $1,200 can be difficult, and there are times when the veteran can simply lose out on the money because they waited too long. This legislation eliminates that cumbersome process by making it so the veteran is repaid, no questions asked.

The bill is fully offset and supported by the veterans service organization community, including by Student Veterans of America.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks) for his work on this legislation and the VSO community for bringing this issue to our committee. I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure no veteran loses out on what is owed to them.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5918, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7589) to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the imposition or collection of copayments for certain mental health outpatient care visits of veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 7589, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, as we all know, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. I hope everyone has the new crisis hotline number, 988, saved on their phones. If you or a veteran you care about is in crisis, please dial 988, and press 1 to reach trained responders at the Veterans Crisis Line. Again, let me repeat the number. Dial 988 and press 1 to reach trained responders at the Veterans Crisis Line.

One component of a public health approach to veteran suicide prevention is ensuring that all of our Nation's heroes have access to timely, high-quality, effective mental health care.

Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to bring up my bill, H.R. 7589, as amended, the Reduce and Eliminate Mental Health Outpatient Veteran Copays or REMOVE Copays Act. We reported this bill favorably out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee last week on a bipartisan voice vote. I thank Ranking Member Bost for his support of this bill.

H.R. 7589 turns a legislative proposal from the Department of Veterans Affairs into a law that will make every enrolled veteran's first three outpatient mental health appointment at VA free every year. We know that what may seem like low copays can, in fact, be significant financial barriers for many veterans. Our goal is to knock down all barriers for veterans seeking and accessing mental health care at the

Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, again, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7589, as amended. I do thank my colleague, the ranking member. It is an example of standing our ground where we must and finding common ground where we can.

Lastly, I close by saying, please dial 988 and press 1 to reach trained responders at the Veterans Crisis Line.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1198) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and expand the Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on S. 1198.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to support S. 1198, the bipartisan, bicameral, Solid Start Act.

This bill is led by Senator Hassan, and in the House, this legislative effort is led by my Veterans Affairs' Committee colleague, Representative Slotkin.

Now, we know that the transition from Active-Duty service to veteran status can bring not only new opportunities, but also substantial adjustment and stress. For some veterans, it can pose serious mental health challenges. In fact, the first year of transitioning out of military service is a very high-risk period for veteran suicide.

VA initiated its Solid Start program to address the challenges new veterans may face during this period. VA now

contacts veterans at three different periods in that first year to check in, remind veterans of benefits and services for which they are eligible, and connect them to resources.

Women veterans, like all veterans, deserve to know about all of the benefits and services they have earned with no exceptions. I have heard today that some Republican Members of this House are suddenly looking to oppose this veteran suicide prevention bill, and all because it has 16 words that simply ensure women veterans are told about the range of benefits and services for which they are eligible; 16 words, when we are talking about 16 veteran suicide deaths a day.

We are talking about benefits like the GI bill, and compensation for toxic exposure presumptions, breast cancer screening, treatment for military sexual trauma, and, yes, the freedom to discuss their options around pregnancy.

All benefits they have earned through their service because they chose to serve our Nation. Well, I would say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to take your fight against women veterans elsewhere.

Criminalizing, infantilizing, and denying women veterans--take your fight elsewhere.

There is no bar that prevents VA providers from discussing a single benefit with male veterans, but my colleagues want a double standard for women veterans. This is about two lines in an entire bill meant to help veterans who have recently left Active Duty. All veterans.

Republicans won't pass this bill unless we delete women from it. I refuse to do that. Women veterans are veterans.

A conversation with a woman veteran about coming to the VA could prevent her death from suicide. It could also prevent needless suffering and possible death from health conditions, including pregnancy.

Republicans have gotten so extreme with their fear of women having autonomy over their own bodies and lives that they are willing to play political games with veterans' lives and tank a veteran suicide prevention bill.

I would also remind those considering blocking this bill that this very same language has already passed in the House. Back on June 23 of this year, this Chamber passed the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022. It passed under a simple voice vote.

The Senate unanimously passed the Solid Start Act after VA's new rule on abortion counseling and services had been announced.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and this legislation would help us better connect veterans with the resources needed to save lives. Sadly, each day, we are losing roughly 16 veterans to suicide.

I am not willing to let 16 words about women's freedom to discuss their own benefits contained in this legislation prevent us from saving the lives of 16 veterans who die by suicide each day. I thank Senator Hassan and Representative Slotkin for their work on this important issue, and I am pleased we could take up this bill during Suicide Prevention Month.

Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1198, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Let me just respond, that every day my colleagues are making threats to file a lawsuit to stop the interim final rule. Like the ranking member believes, as do many on his side of the aisle, that the interim final rule is illegal based on the 1992 law. I will remind him that in 1996, Congress authorized the VA Secretary to define the medical benefits package. So I disagree with his interpretation of this interim final rule as being illegal.

Let me mention one thing further, that I have not seen any lawsuit yet filed, even though he asserted that he would seek to have this rule stayed. I am assuming that the delay in filing, since the hearing that we had, is because he is still looking for a perfect judge to hear it.

In the meantime, they are highjacking this opportunity to once again blind and gag women veterans under the premise that veterans should not be allowed to know the healthcare options and benefits that are available to them.

This is not only an insult to veterans but to the veterans service organizations that have endorsed and supported this bill.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin), my good friend who serves on the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time remains.

Madam Speaker, before I yield an additional 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan, let

me just say that if the minority is so insistent and is fervent in their belief that this interim final rule is illegal, I do not understand why there has been no lawsuit filed to enjoin the rule.

This is very peculiar that with such passion and with such fervor they argue that this rule is illegal.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin).

Madam Speaker, what the gentleman from Texas is suggesting that we do is delete women from S. 1198. That, I will not do.

Yes, I strongly believe in Article I. The accusation that Secretary McDonough issued a radical rule, well, what is this so-called radical rule he is mentioning that he has issued? The rule that Secretary McDonough issued, the interim final rule, says that abortion is available based on the 1996 law, which gave him the authority to define medical benefits available at the VA. That is very clear what Congress did.

It is under that authority that this Secretary has made not a radical rule but simply a rule which allows veteran women to enjoy the same rights that they had when they were serving in the military as Active- Duty servicemembers. Women serving in the military have access to abortions when they have been raped, when they are victims of incest, and, yes, when their pregnancies pose a danger to their life.

Who is trying to play God here are the Members on the other side of the aisle who wish to deny women who have worn the cloth of this country, who have served our country, who fought for all of our freedoms, to deny them the freedom to be able to consider the full range of medical procedures that they need in order to preserve their own life.

What is extreme here is that they want to deny women to even be able to access abortion counseling, counseling which may save their lives.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, again, I ask for my colleagues to join me in passing S. 1198.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8510) to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8510, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 8510, as amended, the Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, is an important bill that will protect and support VA employees who report wrongdoing within the Department.

I commend Representatives Chris Pappas and Tracey Mann, the chairman and ranking member of our Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, for their work over the past few years on this issue.

The subcommittee has been tireless in its examination of VA policies and procedures for protecting whistleblowers and disciplining those who retaliate against them. When retaliation occurs, VA must make whole a whistleblower who was unfairly punished for speaking truth to power. This is not only the right thing to do; it is the law.

During the subcommittee's hearings on this issue, we heard firsthand accounts from several individuals who experienced long waits for justice despite confirmed findings of retaliation. VA can and must do more to protect whistleblowers.

I support Chairman Pappas and Ranking Member Mann's bipartisan legislation. It would promote independence and strengthen the mission of VA's Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.

It would also streamline duplicative investigations and send a clear message that retaliation against those who report wrongdoing will not be tolerated.

This bill has the support of several national organizations that advocate on behalf of government whistleblowers and was favorably reported by the full Veterans' Affairs Committee last week.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 8510, as amended, the Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2794) to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase automatic maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program and the Veterans' Group Life Insurance program, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2794.

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

Madam Speaker, life insurance is designed to offer protection from loss and serves as a death benefit. For a veteran or servicemember, VA's Veterans' Group Life Insurance offers security and confidence that loved ones will be covered and made financially whole in the event a source of income is lost.

While no amount of money can replace the life of a beloved family member, VA's Servicemembers' and Veterans' Group Life Insurance exists to provide an affordable option to provide a fiscal shield for survivors.

Neither insurance program has experienced a coverage limit increase since 2005. This bill increases the maximum amount of coverage for Servicemembers' and Veterans' Group Life Insurance by $100,000, which means expanded coverage of up to $500,000 for each option.

Madam Speaker, I support this bill, I urge all of my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank all the folks that came together for this bill, and I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S. 2794, which upon passage today will be sent on to the President's desk for signature.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7698) to designate the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Ventura, California, as the ``Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner Outpatient Clinic''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 7698.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner, a member of the Navy's first flight-training class for women, the first woman to command a naval aviation squadron, and a lifelong advocate for women's military service.

The bill before us, H.R. 7698, would appropriately name the VA outpatient clinic in Ventura, California, the ``Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner Outpatient Clinic.''

I thank Representative Julia Brownley, chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee's Women Veterans Task Force, for championing this effort.

The VA has more than 1,200 healthcare facilities nationwide, yet as of the beginning of this Congress, just two of these facilities bore the names of women veterans. Representative Brownley's bill will begin to correct this regretful disparity.

More than 2 million women veterans live in the United States today. They serve across all military branches and divisions, and they are the fastest growing group of veterans that utilize VA healthcare services. So it is fitting that we honor a trailblazing woman like Captain Mariner at one of these VA healthcare facilities.

Captain Mariner had service to this country in her veins. The daughter of a World War II Navy nurse and Army pilot killed in a plane crash when she was just 3 years old, Captain Mariner grew up watching planes take off and land at the Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, California.

Captain Mariner went on to become the first woman to enroll in the aeronautics program at Purdue University in 1971, one of six initial women to earn her wings as a U.S. naval aviator in 1974, and the first woman aviator to fly a jet attack aircraft in 1975.

In 1990, Captain Mariner became commander of the Navy's tactical warfare squadron at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in Ventura County.

She continued in public service following her 24-year military career, teaching military history at the University of Tennessee for an additional 15 years.

At Captain Mariner's funeral service in 2019, following a long battle against ovarian cancer, the Navy conducted its first flyover featuring all female pilots. This was, like the naming of the Ventura VA outpatient clinic will be, a fitting tribute to a life of service to this Nation.

H.R. 7698 has letters of support from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record these three letters.

The American Legion,

Department of California,

Sanger, CA, April 6, 2022.

Rep. Julia Brownley,

Washington, DC.

Rep. Brownley: The American Legion Department of California

is proud to support the naming of the Ventura County

Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic after

captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner.

Since its founding in 1919, the American Legion has served

veterans, service members, and communities throughout our

nation. Our commitment to serving all veterans has been one

of the main pillars outlining our purpose. As the United

State Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues to make

strides in the way it supports and cares for women veterans,

I believe by renaming VA facilities after brave female

veterans it is a great step towards recognizing the

contribution of this Nation's woman warriors.

On behalf of the 80,000+ American Legion members in

California we urge congress to take action to name this

facility to honor this woman veteran who embodies the true

essence of duty and service to our community, state, and

Nation.

Respectfully,

Autrey B. James Jr.,

Department Commander,

The American Legion,

Department of California.

Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill, I encourage all of my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I want to say I appreciate the ranking member's mentioning of his daughter and the connection with today's action. I also extend my pride, and I feel his pride. We also are thankful for his daughter's service.

Madam Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Brownley), my good friend and the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health. She is the author of H.R. 7698, a vital piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7698, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2771) to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Angelo, Texas, as the ``Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on S. 2771.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the lives of Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell, both of whom served the community of San Angelo, Texas, and advocated for veterans for many years.

I thank Senator John Cornyn and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger) for putting forward this legislation, which will rename the San Antonio VA clinic in Colonel and Mrs. Powell's honor.

Colonel Powell served as base commander of Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo from 1980 to 1984. He was instrumental in helping to avoid closure of the base, which today serves as a school for thousands of servicemembers training to be cryptologists, intelligence officers, and military firefighters.

Mrs. Powell also lived a life devoted to public service as district manager to four separate Members of Congress. In this role, Mrs. Powell encouraged many young men and women in the 11th Congressional District of Texas to serve in the United States military and helped numerous veterans access the VA benefits they rightfully earned.

S. 2771 and its companion bill, H.R. 4328, are cosponsored by nearly 40 Members of Congress, Democrat and Republican, and the legislation has the support of The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans.

Madam Speaker, I include letters of support from these Members and organizations for the Record.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, February 10, 2022.

Chairman Jon Tester,

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Chairman Mark Takano,

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Jerry Moran,

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Mike Bost,

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Tester, Chairman Takano, Ranking Member

Moran, and Ranking Member Bost: We are writing to express our

support to name the Veterans Affairs community-based

outpatient clinic in San Angelo, Texas, the ``Colonel Charles

and JoAnne Powell VA Clinic''.

Colonel Charles Powell served 30 years in the U.S. Air

Force and was Commander of the 17th Training Wing at

Goodfellow Air Force Base from 1980 until retiring in 1984.

Only six months after his graduation from the U.S. Naval

Academy, he married JoAnne, who soon became a force of her

own in the military and veterans' communities. Together, they

settled in San Angelo for Charles's final assignment at

Goodfellow AFB. The two saved Goodfellow from closure and

helped the base become a technical training center.

During her husband's two deployments in Vietnam and during

his time at Goodfellow, JoAnne revived the Officer Wives Club

and started a Christmas Bazaar program that is ongoing today.

Additionally, she was an active volunteer for a program that

supported MIA and POW families, the Red Cross, and various

other charitable causes.

Beyond these acts of service, JoAnne spent 37 years as a

district staffer for four Members of Congress in the San

Angelo district. She is believed to have provided casework

assistance to thousands of service members and veterans and

helped hundreds of district students navigate service academy

selections and receive appointments. Although Charles passed

away on July 2, 2020, JoAnne upheld Charles' legacy by

staying active in the community, eventually being honored as

a Lifetime Hero in the community for her contributions to the

military community.

On March 24, 2021, JoAnne Powell passed away. Throughout

Charles' and JoAnne's life together, they embodied the true

meaning of selflessness, patience, and perseverance. The

countless hours the Powells dedicated to changing the lives

of their neighbors and being a light in their community have

left a lasting impact on West Texas. We would be grateful for

your support of this effort and hope that the Senate and the

House Committees on Veterans' Affairs will give it its prompt

consideration.

Sincerely,

John Cornyn, United States Senator; Ted Cruz, United States

Senator, August Pfluger, Member of Congress; Louie Gohmert,

Member of Congress; Dan Crenshaw, Member of Congress; Van

Taylor, Member of Congress; Pat Fallon, Member of Congress;

Lance Gooden, Member of Congress; Jake Ellzey, Member of

Congress; Lizzie Fletcher, Member of Congress.

Kevin Brady, Member of Congress; Al Green, Member of

Congress; Michael T. McCaul, Member of Congress; Kay Granger,

Member of Congress; Ronny L. Jackson, Member of Congress;

Randy K. Weber, Sr., Member of Congress; Vicente Gonzalez,

Member of Congress; Veronica Escobar, Member of Congress;

Pete Sessions, Member of Congress; Sheila Jackson Lee, Member

of Congress.

Jodey C. Arrington, Member of Congress; Joaqin Castro,

Member of Congress; Chip Roy, Member of Congress; Troy E.

Nehls, Member of Congress; Tony Gonzales, Member of Congress;

Beth Van Duyne, Member of Congress; Roger Williams, Member of

Congress; Michael C. Burgess, M.D., Member of Congress;

Michael Cloud, Member of Congress; Henry Cuellar, Member of

Congress.

Sylvia R. Garcia, Member of Congress; Eddie Bernice

Johnson, Member of Congress; John R. Carter, Member of

Congress; Colin Z. Allred, Member of Congress; Marc A.

Veasey, Member of Congress; Filemon Vela, Member of Congress;

Lloyd Doggett, Member of Congress; Brian Babin, D.D.S.,

Member of Congress.

Madam Speaker, I support naming VA's community-based outpatient clinic in San Angelo, Texas, in Colonel Charles and Mrs. JoAnne Powell's honor, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 2771, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill

(H.R. 7939) to make permanent certain educational assistance benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the case of changes to courses of education by reason of emergency situations, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within

which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 7939, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7939, as amended. This comprehensive package from Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Chairman Levin includes several improvements for student veterans.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed many flaws in student veteran benefits. We never could have anticipated the need to shift nearly all students to remote learning, but without action, VA would have been forced to cut housing benefits for hundreds of thousands of student veterans nationwide because the students technically were no longer attending classes in person.

However, this committee acted swiftly during 2020, passing several crucial acts, including my Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, which was swiftly signed into law.

These actions meant student veterans were protected from losing their benefits--but only for a limited time. While I am relieved we never left student veterans without their benefits, we came close far too many times.

H.R. 7939, as amended, does away with these artificial benefit cliffs for student veterans and makes permanent many of the veteran protections passed as short-term measures during 2020 and 2021.

That means the next time there is an emergency--be it a flood, tornado, another pandemic, or another event that forces students to take their classes online for a short period of time--VA will be able to fully pay out benefits to student veterans who are forced to attend classes remotely.

I thank Chairman Levin of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity for introducing H.R. 7939, as amended, to safeguard these benefits. In addition, included in this legislation is H.R. 5752, also from Chairman Levin. This provision will allow servicemembers to get out of contracts they may be wrongly bound to because of their orders.

Families suffered fines, excessive bills, and damage to their credit scores due to circumstances completely outside of their control. Also, from Chairman Levin, H.R. 7939, as amended, includes the text from H.R. 7369, the VENTURE Act, which allows more disabled veterans to use the self-employment track for the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program.

Previously, this option was only available to a very small cohort of veterans. The VENTURE Act keeps prioritization of several disabled veterans but also allows additional veterans to pursue this option if they wish.

Finally, this package includes countless additional improvements for student veterans such as improving which programs are available for GI bill approval and removing unnecessary red tape for schools so school certifying officials can spend more time with students and less time on paperwork.

This legislation is supported by Disabled American Veterans, Veterans Education Success, Student Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and VA.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7939, as amended, the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act of 2022, and I yield back the balance of my time.