Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Madam Speaker, today's Special Order hour marks the 10- year anniversary of the enactment of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. This legislation represented the end of an era, the close of a dark chapter in our military history in which LGBTQ members of the Armed Forces were forced to hide who they were under the threat of investigation and discharge. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer servicemembers of that era paid a heavy cost to serve their country, one that required them to uphold an uncompromising oath of integrity while at the same time publicly denying a fundamental aspect of their lives. It is thanks to their resilience, their strength, and their activism that repeal was ever achieved, and we honor those veterans today.

I believe it is important to hear from the veterans themselves from those who served and survived Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It is my pleasure this evening to welcome a number of my colleagues to the floor to read the testimony of five individuals who served under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

It is my distinct privilege to start with the testimony of Lindsay Church, a Navy veteran who served from 2008 to 2012. Lindsay is a third-generation sailor and the sixth in their family to serve in the military. They are a cofounder and executive director of the veteran serving organization Minority Veterans of America and have nearly a decade of experience in veterans advocacy. And this is Lindsay's story:

``In 2008, I joined the Navy where I would serve for 4 years before being medically retired. I served all but 3 months of my time under the military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. I could tell you a lot of stories that range from bullying and reprimand for my nonbinary appearance, failed relationships due to the fact that I had to hide them at every turn, and exploitation by other servicemembers threatening to tell my secret if I didn't continue to date them. Even as I spent months recovering from life-changing injuries as a result of my service, I was made to suffer alone because my relationships were legally prohibited.

``As I have unpacked my service as a veteran, I look back at the intense scars that Don't Ask, Don't Tell inflicted on my life. In conversations with other Don't Ask, Don't Tell survivors, I have come to realize that serving under this policy has left a generation of queer servicemembers with intense trauma and a fracture of our identities. For veterans like myself, we were often faced with a choice upon leaving the military and coming to the veteran community: Be a veteran or be queer because you can't be both here.

``It has taken me nearly a decade since leaving the service to find healing and engage in healthy relationships. I couldn't speak out against this policy when I was in uniform, so it is imperative for me today to remind this body that policies like Don't Ask, Don't Tell cause widespread trauma and harm to generations of servicemembers who fought for our country but were forced to remain voiceless. Moral injury will follow with each of us for the rest of our lives.

``My story of service was tarnished by Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Every day I carried a lie while attempting to live up to the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment. I am deeply proud of the years of my life I gave to serving my country, and that will never change. The scars I carry as a result of that service will also never change. Though they may fade, they will never be forgotten.''

So I would like to extend my deep thanks to Lindsay, both for their service and the courage to share their story.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Cicilline for that testimony that he read on behalf of John Hegwood, former Army servicemember.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas) to share the story of Air Force veteran Landon Marchant.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Pappas for sharing the testimony of Landon Marchant.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moulton), a Congressman who himself is a Marine veteran, to share the story of Air Force veteran Hanna Tripp.

Madam Chair, I express my gratitude to the gentleman from Massachusetts for sharing Hanna Tripp's story. She truly is and was a courageous member of our Armed Forces, and it was very moving testimony. I read it in advance and nearly teared up.

I thank the Member for being here today to share with the rest of the country who Hanna is. I thank all the Members for sharing the stories of our LGBTQ members.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger), my colleague, to share the story of Army veteran Stephanie Merlo.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for sharing the very moving story of Stephanie Merlo, for expressing her humanity on the floor today. The Representative exemplifies, to me, the best of my Caucus, the Democratic Caucus, and the values we stand up for, which is to include more people in ``we the people.''

Madam Speaker, this concludes our Special Order hour. I thank my colleagues for their participation and each of the veterans who shared their stories and, in particular, every veteran and servicemember who gave their service to our country in the face of overwhelming prejudice.

We recognize today as the 10th anniversary of an important first step toward making the Armed Forces more inclusive and accepting, a commitment that I and all my colleagues here today will continue to carry forward.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of a generous and fearless leader, Chairman Mike Hong.

Chairman Hong was a beloved member of the AAPI community, who had a sincere devotion to serving a variety of communities and causes. He mentored countless young people and believed in the importance of Asian Americans being politically engaged.

He exemplified the immigrant who, by dint of talent, persistence, and faith, blazed a trail to success and then ensured many others would share in his blessings, and they did.

I am especially proud that he helped finance a memorial of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, a revered Korean independence freedom fighter, in the downtown mall of my hometown of Riverside, California.

Chairman Hong dedicated his life to the service of others, and that will never be forgotten. To the Hong family and all those who knew, loved, and respected him, I offer my deepest condolences.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs' Home Loan Program. For a century, this loan assistance program has helped veterans and their families realize the American dream of homeownership after returning from their service to our country.

The Farm and Home Loan Program was created on May 30, 1921, to thank California veterans for their service and sacrifice in World War I. This program identified homeownership as a foundational step towards transitioning to civilian life, establishing credit, and building a strong financial future for veterans and their families. Over the course of the last hundred years, the Home Loan Program has aided veterans throughout times of war and economic crisis, including the Great Depression, the Great Recession, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.

During its existence, the program has distributed more than $8.5 billion in loans to over 425,000 veterans and expanded to serve a growing and diverse veteran population. Today, the Home Loan Program is renowned for some of the lowest foreclosure rates in the country, personalized service, and a comprehensive homeowners insurance plan; and continues to deliver exceptional customer service to veterans who would otherwise not qualify for a loan.

Madam Speaker, I am proud that my home state has been a pioneer in assisting veterans to secure housing and I congratulate the California Department of Veterans Affairs on their exceptional work throughout the decades. The Home Loan Program has been a lifeline to thousands of veterans over the past 100 years, and I know that it will continue to help veterans achieve homeownership for the next 100 to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding. I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting this en bloc, which includes a symbolic amendment in support of the Office of Technology Assessment, otherwise known as OTA.

The reestablishment of OTA has been a top priority of mine since I first came to Congress in 2013. Since then, debates around emerging technologies and concepts have caught this Congress by surprise as we struggle to legislate on

complex issues of technological and societal importance.

Before OTA was defunded in 1995, the office served a critical role in providing Members of Congress and staff with nonpartisan and expert advice on complex scientific and technical issues. OTA served as a model of good governance and innovation in government, and believe me, we could use OTA now in this environment of dissembling and shading of the truth around vaccines.

Today, OTA would be invaluable as we debate issues related to cryptocurrencies; nonfungible tokens, or NTFs; cybersecurity; artificial intelligence; and other developing technologies throughout our society.

We understand the importance and value of CRS and GAO when it comes to researching and understanding complex issues. That is not up for debate. Yet, OTA is necessary to ensure Congress is informed and knowledgeable on some of the most complex issues facing our society today.

Staff who will work alongside CRS and GAO to provide this expertise will help this legislature not only catch up with the rest of our economy but truly understand how these new forms of technology affect our economy in everyday life.

The foundation of good policy is accurate and objective analysis, and the reestablishment of the Office Technology Assessment is how we will pass new and forward-thinking laws for our country.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 957) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that certain medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs have physical locations for the disposal of controlled substances medications.

Mr. 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. 957.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are bringing up to the floor Senator Kennedy's bill, S. 957, the DUMP Opioids Act. I also want to commend Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and Congressman Trone for their work in introducing a House companion to this legislation.

We have all seen reports of a dramatic increase in accidental and intentional overdose deaths during the pandemic, both among veterans and nonveterans, in our communities. While addressing the factors that lead to substance misuse, we must also act immediately to lower access to controlled substances for those in distress.

I applaud my colleagues for advancing this legislation as one piece in our lethal means safety approach to suicide and accidental death prevention.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has been a leader in decreasing prescribing of opioids and in developing nonopioid forms of pain management. This is vitally important given what we know about the health risks that even prescription opioids pose for veterans and others in our Nation.

At the same time, chronic pain is a challenging, significant, and ongoing concern for many veterans and there are times when opioids are appropriately prescribed and monitored. We need to make sure, however, that people have safe ways to dispose of opioid medications when they are either no longer needed or when they could be used unsafely in a home. This bill ensures that veterans and members of the public may safely dispose of unused controlled substances in special repositories on VA properties on days specifically designated by VA as public take- back days.

The Secretary of the VA has the authority to set appropriate guidelines for safe disposal by members of the public.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the DUMP Opioids Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 957, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1910) to authorize major medical facility projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2021.

Mr. 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. 1910.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Senator Tester's S. 1910, the Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2021. I also thank my good friend and a valued member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Representative Colin Allred, for introducing the House companion to this vital and important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, each year, the Department of Veterans Affairs submits an annual budget request to Congress, and then it is our job to authorize and appropriate the funding that VA needs to care for America's veterans and their families. Within that larger funding request is VA's request for funds to replace and modernize its medical facilities.

This year's major construction request totals just over $2 billion and will build a much-needed spinal cord injury center in Dallas, Texas; erect a community living center and renovate domiciliary and outpatient facilities in Canandaigua, New York; construct an outpatient clinic and a national cemetery in Alameda, California; and allow for the construction of a new specialty care building in American Lake, Washington, among other things.

Mr. Speaker, this Congress, our committee has highlighted VA's aging infrastructure. It might surprise some Members to learn the median age of VA medical centers is 58 years old. In the private sector, it is about 11 years.

Delivering 21st century healthcare in buildings that were built during the latter half of the 19th century is far from ideal and certainly not what our veterans deserve.

Despite outdated facilities, RAND and other academic entities have found VA provides better care than private options, in most cases. That is right. The VA provides better care even though it is working from outdated facilities. Imagine what those findings would look like if VA was competing with a modern infrastructure.

During our oversight efforts, the committee has learned that in order to fully recapitalize the Department's portfolio, VA would need roughly $100 billion. The Biden administration's $18 billion proposal to enhance VA's physical infrastructure is a downpayment in ensuring veterans have access to the most advanced healthcare and most robust infrastructure that we can provide.

My colleagues across the aisle may argue that potentially spending $18 billion on VA's infrastructure is premature because it fails to consider existing reform efforts already underway, alluding to the AIR Commission. They will argue that we should wait for the Commission's findings. Given the severity of underfunding as it relates to VA's capital assets, we cannot afford to

wait until the AIR Commission provides recommendations to Congress and the White House.

Life safety and seismic issues across the portfolio must be addressed now. Regular maintenance should not be delayed because of budgetary concerns, nor should we delay retrofitting facilities to meet the needs of VA's fastest growing population--women veterans--or delay addressing the lessons learned from this Nation's first pandemic in more than 100 years.

If we are going to build back better, if we are going to build back trust in VA, we have to start making serious investments in the outdated infrastructure meant to serve them, and nearly three-fourths of Americans agree.

Mr. Speaker, that is why I support S. 1910, and I thank Senator Tester, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for prioritizing and passing this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Allred), my good friend and a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where he is an active member of the Subcommittee on Health.

(Mr. ALLRED asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S. 1910, the Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2021, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember an Inland Empire resident and an excellent public servant, Lois Carson.

Lois was a beloved member of my community and a passionate advocate for childcare, education, and welfare reform.

Lois served as the president of the San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees while I served on the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees. I have fond memories of working with her at trustee conferences where we would collaborate on improving the lives of Inland Empire students.

During her 30 years as the executive director of Community Action Partnership of Riverside County, Lois provided services for low-income residents. Under her leadership the agency ran successfully and received the first public sector Community Action Agency award for excellence in 2005.

The Inland Empire was fortunate to benefit from Lois Carson's many talents, and I am honored to have known her and believe that her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Bowman for yielding, and I fully appreciate an opportunity to be in partnership with a fellow teacher for the cause of climate change.

Climate change is infrastructure. Our buildings, roads, and transportation are directly impacted by the impending climate crisis.

In this 1 year, we have seen our oceans on fire; a pipeline broke in the Gulf of Mexico; our bridges are crumbling; our buildings are collapsing; wildfires and heat waves have been paired with rolling blackouts in my district.

Unfortunately, my constituents and I have experienced this for decades without much progress, but we cannot continue to accept this as a reality, a continuing reality.

In addition to losing power in my district, some of the worst air quality in the country exists in my district. Despite California leading the Nation in investing in renewable energy, we still are not doing enough.

As co-chair of the Congressional Energy Storage Caucus, I know how critical it is for us to invest in renewable microgrids that are powered by solar and wind energy and backed by battery energy storage. Congress must provide municipalities, businesses, and residents with the ability to purchase and build their own energy grids that are resilient to our frequent natural disasters.

We have the technology to catch up to the modern industrial world. We cannot afford not to use this technology. We must invest.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a member of my staff, Dayanara Ramirez, who dutifully served for three years in my office as Communications Director. Dayanara is leaving Congress--for now--to join the Biden Administration after an incredibly successful 5- year tenure in the House of Representatives.

Dayanara first joined Team Takano in July 2018 and quickly became integral to my office's role as a progressive voice in Congress. Her tenure could be defined by her ferocious defense of equality and progressive values, and her energy helped foster a creative and industrious environment on her team. Dayanara worked diligently to expand our communications team and grow our social media footprint across every major platform into what it is today.

In addition to her official duties in Congress, Dayanara made it a point to contribute to the

institution and its people through her generous volunteerism. Dayanara served as a member of the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association and the Democratic Digital Communications Staff Association, and most recently as the President of the LGBT Congressional Staff Association.

Dayanara has been a loyal member of my staff who has not only helped me to stay ``woke,'' but also helped me to improve my own Spanish speaking skills in the service of my constituents of CA-41.

Madam Speaker, it has been a privilege to have such a dedicated public servant as Dayanara on my staff. I have every confidence that Dayanara will continue to excel in her future endeavors and fully expect her to eventually return to Congress with even more experience to defend progressive values across our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a constituent and dear friend, Andy Melendrez, on his retirement from the Riverside City Council.

Mr. Melendrez has served as a council member for Ward 2 for four consecutive terms. During his first term as council member, he focused on enforcing public safety.

He has also always been a strong advocate for Riverside's youth. Mr. Melendrez brought the first youth opera program to the Cesar Chavez Community Center-Bobby Bonds Park and other social service programs for youth that would provide them with mentoring, workforce development training, and other opportunities to improve their lives.

Mr. Melendrez's dedication to improving the lives of families in Riverside is admirable. There is no doubt of his dedication and commitment to public service.

Riverside was lucky to have him as a local leader, and I wish him the best in his retirement from the city council.

Madam Speaker, I thank my fellow Californian for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the INVEST in America Act, a $547 billion infrastructure bill that will invest in communities across the country.

This bold piece of legislation includes $20 million in contract authority to fund the I-15 northern extension project in my own community in Riverside County.

This investment will create jobs in the Inland Empire; it will meet our basic infrastructure needs; and it will improve our freeways and better connect our region.

The INVEST in America Act will put us on the path to finally modernizing

our Nation's roads, bridges, rails, and water systems, while keeping in mind the urgency to fight climate change.

I do not hear from my colleagues across the aisle language that speaks to the future; I hear language instead that clings to the past. On this side of the aisle, we speak about a transition to a cleaner, more green future.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and invest in our communities.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman McGovern for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 503, to establish a select committee to investigate the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol.

On January 6, 2021, Americans watched as the U.S. Capitol was overrun by a violent mob of Trump supporters on a mission to stop the certification of the electoral college votes. Lawmakers were in this very Chamber carrying out their constitutional duty when this mob, incited by then-President Trump, forced them into lockdown. Many feared for their lives. Our democratic process came to a halt, and, unfortunately, a Capitol Police officer lost his life.

Madam Speaker, this was an attack on our democracy. We must shine a light on the truth to prevent something like this from ever happening again and to hold those responsible for inciting this insurrection accountable for the damage they have caused.

For the sake of our democracy, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to establish the select committee.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 486, I call up the bill (H.R. 239) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for limitations on copayments for contraception furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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. 239.

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

Madam Speaker, this is not the first time I speak in favor of Representative Brownley's bill, H.R. 239, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, but I continue to advocate for this bill because it is an essential component of supporting the fastest- growing population of our Nation's heroes, our 2 million women veterans.

Last week, this bill was defeated on the suspension calendar when the Family Research Council mobilized efforts with my colleagues in the Freedom Caucus who suggested that the bill pushes a ``harmful ideology.'' Distorting this debate into one about abortion, frankly, does not make any sense at all.

I again remind my colleagues that this legislation passed out of our committee with the support of Ranking Member Bost and through the House last Congress with the support of former Ranking Member Dr. Roe. I know that Dr. Roe is a fierce pro-life advocate, but as an OB/GYN, he understood the importance of access to contraception.

Let me be clear. This bill brings veterans' contraception coverage on par with care they received while on Active Duty from the Department of Defense and coverage required by private health insurance providers to all women in the United States since 2010--all women except those who seek care from the VA.

Now, this bill is about healthcare. This bill is about access. This bill is about equity, especially for our women veterans.

I thank Ranking Member Bost and Minority Leader McCarthy for their leadership in support of this bipartisan bill.

Simply put, a ``no'' vote today is saying directly to veterans that they deserve less healthcare than all other Americans. To me, the choice is easy. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 239. We cannot permit veterans to be made second-class citizens.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Brownley), my good friend from my home State, and the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health, and also the author of this very important piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I just want to say that extremism in the defense of nonsense is not conservatism, it is still nonsense.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), my good friend, and member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology and Modernization.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood), my good friend and a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and also a very active member of the Health Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining?

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lois Frankel), my good friend and new member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she also serves on the Health Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), my good friend and a member of the Financial Services Committee, where he is chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu), my good friend and the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

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

Madam Speaker, let me just say that this bill by Ms. Brownley is about providing equal access to contraceptions for our Nation's veterans. To oppose this bill is to advocate for a situation where veterans are made second-class citizens.

This bill is about contraception. Nowhere in the bill's text or in the title does the word ``abortion'' even appear. I would ask my colleagues who are in opposition to the bill to read the one-page text very carefully. I think they will see that there is no reference to, in any way, the word ``abortion.''

Madam Speaker, I would also say, I think it was H.L. Mencken who said that consistency is often the hobgoblin of little minds.

For those Members who voted against this bill, you know, in fear of the moment, they can reconsider their vote and, I think, get on the right side of the issue in terms of equality for our veterans.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), my colleague and very good friend, the chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

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

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the honor and courage with which my counterpart, Ranking Member Bost, has defended and stood up for the truth. And the truth is, H.R. 239 by Chairwoman Brownley is about providing equal access to contraception to America's veterans.

A ``no'' vote on this bill--and I will say it again--a ``no'' vote on this bill is a vote to make our veterans second-class citizens.

Every other American under every other plan in this country, whether it is in private healthcare, because we passed the Affordable Care Act and said that every American is entitled to preventative services, including contraception, since 2010, or Active Duty servicemembers under the Department of Defense who are able to access contraception without copays--Ms. Brownley's bill simply makes veterans on equal footing with all other Americans.

A ``no'' vote on this bill is to make our veterans second-class citizens, and I say of those who make that vote: Shame on them.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank my true friend from the State of Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), who chairs the LGBTQ-plus Equality Caucus, for his work.

I want to say that Pride is always a very special time of year. It is a time of protest, a time of celebration, a time that we remember the struggles, honor the trailblazers, and appreciate the progress that we have made in the fight toward equality.

Throughout our history, LGBTQ people have been denied their basic rights. To this day, LGBTQ Americans across the country still face discrimination in key areas of life, from housing to healthcare.

While the Supreme Court has ruled to expand nondiscrimination protections in employment and made marriage equality the law of the land, in 29 states LGBTQ people aren't fully protected from discrimination.

That is why we are working hard to get the Equality Act signed into law.

Discrimination in this country has also been enshrined into policies at every level, including in the military.

Despite this, thousands of brave LGBTQ Americans have still stepped up to serve our country in uniform. For decades, LGBTQ members of the U.S. military and veterans have faced discrimination stemming from official military policies, including Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the Trans Military Ban.

Before Don't Ask, Don't Tell became an official military policy, servicemembers who were LGBTQ had to hide their identities, and those who were suspected of being LGBTQ were targeted by horrendous and traumatizing so-called witch hunts, which stripped them of their dignity and mistreated them based on a suspicion that had nothing to do with their service.

It is estimated that approximately 114,000 servicemembers were discharged on the basis of their sexual orientation between World War II and 2011, while an estimated 870,000 LGBTQ veterans have been impacted by ``hostility, harassment, assaultive behavior, and law enforcement targeting'' by discriminatory military policies.

Many LGBTQ veterans who were discharged on discriminatory grounds are

unable to access their VA benefits, and those still serving face inconsistent protections that make them vulnerable to harassment and put their careers at risk.

But the true extent of the harm by discriminatory anti-LGBTQ policies in the military and at the VA is not known or well understood. To remedy the harm that has been done, we must reckon with the truth of what happened and understand the disparate effects of discriminatory military policies on LGBTQ people.

That is why I have introduced the Commission to Study the Stigmatization, Criminalization, and Ongoing Exclusion and Inequity for LGBTQ Servicemembers and Veterans Act, otherwise known as the Commission on LGBTQ Servicemembers and Veterans Act.

This legislation would launch a comprehensive study on the effects of discriminatory military policies on affected servicemembers, their families, and their units to help America learn the full extent of the harm caused by these policies and the status of protections for LGBTQ servicemembers today.

There are currently 250,000 Active Duty LGBTQ servicemembers and more than 1.5 million LGBTQ veterans receiving healthcare from the VA. But there continues to be a pervasive lack of data collection on LGBTQ servicemembers and veteran populations and an absence of education for both members of the military and the general public about members of the LGBTQ community who serve in uniform. This legislation seeks to address that.

It is essential for the American people to hear stories of LGBTQ servicemembers and veterans to understand the stigmatization they endured while serving our country and to know that, despite this, they are still immensely proud of their service.

This month, I have been sharing powerful stories of LGBTQ veterans on my social media. Every video testimonial reveals stories of bravery and profound love for country. It ends with veterans sharing the same message: LGBTQ people want and deserve to serve, just like everyone else.

We have, of course, made a lot of progress as a country, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to make the military and VA more inclusive. It is my mission as co-chair of the Equality Caucus and chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to ensure that we honor the service of every American who has served, regardless of their identity.

This past weekend, we saw action that steers us toward that goal. The Biden administration announced that the VA will begin the first steps to expand care to include gender confirmation surgery for transgender veterans. This is truly a first and incredibly significant step that the VA is taking, and I applaud the VA's decision. Veterans in need of gender confirmation surgery should not have to seek healthcare outside of the VA healthcare system or navigate complicated processes to get the care they need.

This announcement will be life-changing for many, and it is the result of years of hard work and advocacy on behalf of trans veterans and allies.

So in honor of Pride Month, we must keep up the momentum, honor all those who have served our country in uniform, and commit ourselves to creating a truly equal nation.

Mr. Speaker, I say mahalo to my colleague, Representative Case, for yielding and for organizing this Special Order hour to commemorate the release of an historic stamp that honors the bravery and service of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the Go for Broke Japanese American Soldiers of World War II Forever Stamp.

I am a proud Japanese American, the son of a mother and father who were young children when executive order 9066 was signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which forced them and the rest of my family out of our homes and into internment camps on American soil.

Executive order 9066 labeled Japanese Americans as enemy aliens. It scapegoated an entire community of Americans and questioned their loyalty. It was misguided, it was based on lies, and it was rooted in racism and fear.

During this time, 120,000 Japanese Americans were unjustly imprisoned, mass-blamed for atrocities they did not commit. Their rights were trampled, their freedoms were curtailed, and their humanity was ignored.

While our own government was carrying out the unthinkable against its own people, while fighting for the ideals of liberty and freedom abroad, young Japanese-American men stepped up to serve under our flag, even when our country did not want them to.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese-American men of draft age were excluded from military service. They were considered enemy aliens, unfit to serve and unfit to fight for their very own country. Yet, in spite of this, a highly motivated group of Japanese Americans eager to prove their allegiance and patriotism petitioned the U.S. Government for their right to serve.

President Roosevelt relented, allowing these men to form the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army, a legendary, segregated Japanese-American fighting unit that was sent to the front lines of World War II, even as their families were in internment camps back home.

Among these men were three of my great-uncles, including my great- uncle Manzo ``Mon'' Takahasi, who is pictured right beside me. My great-uncle Mon gave his life for our country in Italy just a few weeks before D-day. He was 26 years old.

Recently, I rewatched the testimony of his brother, my other great- uncle Nobi, who recounted the story of the day that he learned that his brother had died in battle, in what he called the final push of the war.

Mon and so many other nisei soldiers never had the opportunity to relish the victory that they helped secure, but their valor helped move our world closer to peace.

My great-uncle Nobi also shared what it was like to serve in the rescue of the Lost Battalion as a member of the 442nd. The rescue of the Lost Battalion took place in the Vosges Mountains of France in October of 1944. Eight hundred men in the 442nd lost their lives in combat to rescue 211 men in the 141st Texas Regiment. He told a story of bloodshed and of the carnage that he witnessed there. He described the nauseating, terrible feeling after seeing dead bodies of American and German soldiers and helmets all around him.

The nisei fighters believed in the promise of America. These men were betting on America, and they bet that America could be a more perfect, free, and more equal Union. In the case of my great-uncle Mon, he bet his life.

I just want to say that the motto of this unit was Go for Broke, which means to go all in, to bet everything. This group of men bet not on the reality of America--the reality then was an America that let Japanese Americans down, that stripped them of their rights and interned them without reason.

These men were in a humiliating place to have to prove their patriotism. They had something to prove, and they did prove it. So I tell the story of my great-uncles and the 442nd with great pride and a strong belief that, if it wasn't for them, I would not be a Member of Congress today.

Did they win their bet?

I stand as evidence that they did.