Floor Statements

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5918, as amended. This bill would close a financial loophole affecting many servicemembers.

Last Congress, I was proud to support General Bergman's efforts to responsibly sunset the Montgomery GI Bill, and today I am pleased to support Congressman Banks' bill to ensure that those servicemembers who paid into the program are repaid.

Under current law, servicemembers who switch from Montgomery to the Post-9/11 GI Bill would lose about $1,200 they paid into the program, if they exhausted their benefits while still on Active Duty. Veterans who exhaust their benefits already receive the $1,200 back. This bill would fix this loophole and treat servicemembers and veterans equally.

Servicemembers earned the benefits and should not be shortchanged just because they are still on Active Duty. This bill would include a short-term extension of the VA home loan funding fees to fully offset the cost of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank the American Legion for bringing this problem to our attention, and I also thank Congressman Banks for introducing this important bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7589, the REMOVE Copays Act. As its name suggests, this bill would remove copayments from every veteran's first three mental health outpatient visits for each calendar year.

I am pleased to support the REMOVE Copays Act today, and I hope it will encourage veterans to take better care of their mental health. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and according to the most recent data from the VA, the amount of veterans who died by suicide decreased from 2019 to 2020.

That is encouraging news. However, at least one non-VA study suggests that VA is undercounting the number of veterans who die by suicide by as much as 2.4 times. I fear that VA's data still has not accounted for the negative effects of COVID lockdowns, isolation, and illness.

Regardless, as long as veterans continue to take their own lives, we have important work to do. Suicide is not just a mental health issue. Improving mental health has a critical role to play in stopping suicide once and for all.

I am grateful to Chairman Takano for his introduction of this bill, and I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting it today.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in reluctant opposition to S. 1198, the Solid Start Act of 2021. The Solid Start program was created by President Trump in 2019 to better support veterans as they transition out of the military.

I know firsthand that leaving the military can be tough. When I left the military as a young marine, the only TAP program that I got was a tap on the back and a ``see ya later.''

I am glad that things have improved a lot since then. The Solid Start program has helped improve servicemembers' transitions even more.

I am a real big fan of the Solid Start program. The STRONG Act, my bill with Chairman Takano, includes identical language to this bill and would permanently authorize the Solid Start Program. The STRONG Act passed the House in June with my full support.

However, earlier this month, Secretary McDonough announced that VA would begin providing abortions. I believe it is not only immoral, but it is also illegal. Congress prohibited VA providing abortions in 1992. Congress has never repealed that prohibition. Just so you know, it has never been superseded.

Secretary McDonough has claimed that he is taking this action in defense of women's health, setting aside the fact that abortion is not healthcare. By making that claim, the Secretary has made it clear that he views women's health as one and the same with abortion.

Madam Speaker, this bill would require VA to provide women veterans with, ``information that is tailored to their specific healthcare and benefit needs.''

We have offered if they would remove that language to just say ``veterans,'' that would not include information about abortion, given the Secretary's views, that is unacceptable to me and to many others.

Our democracy is based on the rule of law, and I wish the Secretary would follow the law, especially when it is a matter of life and death. If he did, I would fully support this bill just like I did in June, before the VA's new illegal rule.

Instead, I regret that I must oppose it today, and I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume because I would like to take this time to respond to a few things that were not said correctly.

One, no one has said anything about a lawsuit, especially from the ranking member.

Two, the Hyde amendment says: rape, incest, life of the mother. When you put life and health of the mother, then it expands what can be distorted and where we are at, and it opens to the point of long-term abortion, and that has actually been verified by the VA.

There is not a whole list there that we want to remove. We want it to say: If we believe that men and women are all veterans and should be considered, then they should be advised as veterans.

But by putting that particular language in at this time after the administration has violated the law of 1962--now the chairman said there is another law, but if you look at that law, that law never goes directly to abortion. And if it was directed towards abortion, then they would have put it in the law. They would have put it in the law. They wouldn't have made that broad statement. That is why it is a misinterpretation of the VA.

Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Let me tell you, Madam Speaker, if I may, the question is not on rape, incest, or life of the mother. It is on health, which could then go to mental health which could spin off to late-term abortions.

This is a very personal issue to a lot of people, and I am sure it is to everyone on both sides of the aisle. But I have to question who in this room has ever held a child who has been born after 25 weeks in the womb? I have. I held one granddaughter who died in the womb and one who died in my arms after she was out of the womb.

What the VA has done with this rule by tweaking it, they think it is for the right reasons--right or wrong--which you consider, rape, incest, life of the mother, it is not. It is rape, incest, life and health of the mother, which will allow for those late-term abortions.

Madam Speaker, that is life. Our Constitution is very clear. It is very clear: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the first being life.

You can't, if you have ever held a child like that when they died in your arms, say that is not life.

Unfortunately, it is not us that is making the decision. It is political. It is the Biden administration, Madam Speaker, and they have done it through taking the VA.

Anybody that can question me on my support of veterans is out of their mind. I have served. My father served. My grandfather served. My son served. My grandson served. And guess what? As of last week, my granddaughter is now in Navy boot camp.

I will stand for the veterans, but I will not stand for the death of children regardless of who this administration is or what they believe is a good political move.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), my good friend.

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

Madam Speaker, I think it is important to realize that DOD actually follows the Hyde amendment, which is rape, incest, and the life of the mother, which is exactly what the chairman just quoted.

What the VA does is rape, incest, and life and health, including mental health, of the mother, which can be a claim that maybe I am under stress, all of these things. That is why we need clarification. Not only do we need clarification, but we need to follow the law.

The argument that the other law allows the VA Secretary to make these decisions, it never mentioned abortion in there. I think that would have done that.

Madam Speaker, I am encouraging my Members to vote ``no'' on this bill. I would love to be able to vote on this bill when we get this problem straightened out. I believe our veterans deserve to have the other benefits that are here and available in the bill.

As everybody knows, I did vote for it in the other form before the VA stepped down this path.

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

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8510, as amended.

Following the access scandal of 2014, Congress enacted the VA Accountability Act. The Accountability Act is meant to make it easier for VA to hold bad employees responsible for their actions. The law also created a new VA office intended to protect whistleblowers and conduct investigations.

Unfortunately, this office has never lived up to the standard that whistleblowers deserve. In 2021, 80 percent of the OAWP recommendations for discipline were ignored by the VA. It is time to refocus their mission.

H.R. 8510, as amended, would require VA employees with complaints to be referred to the Office of Special Counsel. The OSC is an independent office which has the authority to receive, manage, and investigate allegations of whistleblower retaliation at the VA.

The OSC has a respected history of conducting objective investigations. As such, I am convinced that the OSC will do a better job of holding senior VA employees accountable than the OAWP.

This bill was drafted with valuable input from stakeholders and enjoys broad support.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased that Congressman Pappas and Congressman Mann have come together to author this important bipartisan proposal, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann), my good friend, who has worked so hard on this issue.

Madam Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2794, the Supporting Families of the Fallen Act.

I thank Senator Tuberville and Congressman Roy for leading this effort in the Senate and the House, respectively.

This bill makes much-needed updates to the coverage amounts for the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and the Veterans' Group Life Insurance program.

Specifically, this bill would allow VA to raise the max payment for both programs from $400,000 to $500,000. An additional $100,000 would make it easier for surviving spouses to keep a roof over their family's head and food on the table following the loss of their loved one.

As many of you know, VA's life insurance programs may be the only affordable option available to servicemembers and veterans. This is because some veterans may not be eligible for private life insurance due to the added risk of military service or because they have a service-connected disability, like PTSD or cancer.

When we send our military into harm's way, VA insurance programs provide them and their families with financial security. However, the max rate of $400,000, which was established in 2005, does not meet the needs of today's survivors.

Since 2005, American families have seen the cost of living continuously rise. This is especially true right now due to historic inflation under the Biden administration.

This bill would provide families with insurance coverage that will better meet their needs. S. 2794 builds on our Nation's promises to care for the families of those lost in service to our country.

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

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), my good friend.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Angelo Joseph Camarato Foundation on their grand opening. This new foundation, which bears the name of Sergeant Major Angelo Joseph Camarato, is dedicated to helping end food insecurity for veterans.

SGM Camarato to was a first generation American, born in Herrin, Illinois on August 7, 1919. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, SGM Camarato bravely answered the call to service, enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942 and beginning a long and inspiring career of military service. During his 24 years in the military, which included campaigns in Salerno, France, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, the Rhineland, and Central Europe in World War II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars, SGM Camarato earned three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. In addition, his battalion was the first to use self-propelled Howitzer.

After returning home from World War II, SGM Camarato married Mary Lou Peffer, and they raised their three children in Herrin. As a member of the American Legion, VFW, Eagles, and Knights of Columbus, he continued to serve his community long after he hung up his uniform. Today, the Angelo Joseph Camarato Foundation continues his legacy by providing ready-to-eat meals for Southern Illinois veterans.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the grand opening of the Angelo Joseph Camarato Foundation as they proudly honor and continue the selfless service SGM Camarato exemplified throughout his life.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7698, a bill to rename the VA outpatient clinic in Ventura, California, the Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner Outpatient Clinic.

Captain Mariner was a trailblazer for women in military aviation. She was born in Texas and grew up in San Diego, California. Her mother was a Navy nurse, and her father was a military pilot. She grew up watching planes take off from Naval Air Station Miramar, which inspired her to save up for flying lessons.

In 1972, when she was just 19 years old, she became the first woman to graduate from Purdue University's aeronautical program. She then joined the Navy and was selected as one of the first eight women to enter pilot training. In 1974, she became one of the first six women to earn their naval aviator pilot's wings.

She went on to become one of the first female aviators to fly the A-4 Skyhawk fighter aircraft, the first woman to fly the A-7 Corsair strike aircraft, the first female aviator to be assigned to an aircraft carrier, and the first woman to command an aviation squadron in the Navy.

She commanded a tactical electronic warfare squadron during the first Gulf war. After that, she was one of the first women in the Navy to be promoted to captain. She retired in 1997 after 24 years of military service with over 3,500 flight hours. Her funeral in 2019 was accompanied by the first all-female pilot flyover.

Captain Mariner's contributions to the U.S. military and the Nation were truly remarkable. She set a lasting example for women in the Navy, whose ranks will include, as of Wednesday, my own granddaughter, which I am very proud of, even though I am still having trouble with the Navy over the Marines thing.

Madam Speaker, I am so proud to support this bill, I am grateful to Congresswoman Brownley for sponsoring it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2771. This bill names the VA community-based outpatient clinic, or CBOC, in San Angelo, Texas, after Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell.

Charles Powell graduated from the Naval Academy and went on to spend

three decades in the Air Force. In that time, he deployed twice to Vietnam, served as commander of Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, and eventually attained the rank of colonel.

While not a veteran herself, his wife, JoAnne Powell, was, as the Disabled American Veterans, Department of Texas, put it, a force all her own. During her husband's time as commanding officer of Goodfellow, she revived the Officers Wives Club, started a Christmas bazaar program that continues to this day, supported efforts to prevent the base from closing, and actively volunteered for the local charities and helped families of servicemembers who were prisoners of war or missing in action.

For her efforts, she was honored at the Goodfellow Air Force Base with a lifetime achievement award. JoAnne also spent almost 40 years working for her local Congressmen, helping thousands of servicemembers, veterans, and military families.

This bill fulfills the committee's naming criteria. It has the full support of the Texas congressional delegation, local VSOs, and the veteran community in and around San Angelo.

I particularly recognize the hard work and leadership of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), my friend, and the Senate sponsor of this bill, Senator Cornyn. They have been relentless in their advocacy for the bill so that Charles and JoAnne's incredible legacy will finally receive the recognition it deserves. I thank them both.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill today.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert Wilkins for his service to Southern Illinois. Bob was hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1973 and served as the Operations Manager at the Carlyle Lake Project Office, Kaskaskia River Project and Jerry F. Costello Lock and Dam over the years.

During his nearly 47 years of service, Mr. Wilkins was involved with working groups including the Kaskaskia Watershed Association, Carlyle Lake Association, Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders and Okaw River Basin Coalition. These groups consist of federal and state agencies, community leaders and stakeholders who develop solutions to service the Kaskaskia Watershed, which covers about 10 percent of Illinois.

Bob's efforts to obtain funding for the operation and maintenance of the lock and dam and the support of commercial towing on the Kaskaskia have allowed Southern Illinois Transfer, Kaskaskia River Terminals, and Kaskaskia Shipyard to expand commercial navigation on the river. To commemorate his work, including 20 years as operations manager of the Kaskaskia River Project and Jerry F. Costello Lock and Dam, the shipyard has named the next vessel in the retractable wheelhouse towboat series after Bob.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Robert Wilkins on this momentous occasion. I thank Bob for his service to our Southern Illinois communities and congratulate him on his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th anniversary of the Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The cemetery was acquired by Gene and Betty Wells in 1952. In 1967, their daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Eugene Stanford, acquired and placed 25 flags to honor our heroes in uniform laid to rest in the cemetery. Over the years, they also began placing homemade crosses bearing the names of each veteran interred there. Earlier this year, the Stanfords and their staff set up an avenue of 419 flags and 1,200 crosses to represent every veteran laid to rest at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

In 2019, a local citizen encouraged Memorial Gardens to participate in the Wreaths Across America program. Since then, the Mt. Vernon community comes out to the cemetery every year to place small flags at the marker of each veteran ahead of Veterans' Day. When the wreaths arrive in December, the community uses those flags to easily identify which graves bear the heroes from the Mt. Vernon area who served our nation.

I also want to recognize the Stanfords' daughter, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Stanford, who answered the call to serve on September 11, 2001. Twenty-one years later, she continues to patriotically serve our nation in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the Stanfords' efforts to keep the memory of generations of servicemembers alive and for the important role they've played in providing a place of comfort for grieving Southern Illinois families.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7939, as amended, the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act of 2022.

This is a bipartisan bill led by Chairman Levin and Ranking Member Moore of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. The base text would provide emergency protection for maintaining current GI bill payments for student veterans if a pandemic like COVID-19 hits our country again.

I am supportive of the entire package, but I am especially pleased that five Republican proposals have been included. This bill includes Congressman Joyce's language that would extend full post-9/11 GI bill benefits to the servicemembers who have been discharged under DOD's sole survivor rules.

A sole survivor discharge is designed to protect the members of a family if they have already lost family members to military service.

This issue directly impacts Congressman Joyce's constituents, the Weninger family, whose son, Sergeant Weninger, tragically passed away in 2020. I am happy to honor Sergeant Weninger for his service to the United States and provide this benefit to his brother.

I thank his family, Congressman Joyce, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors for bringing this important issue to our attention.

Now, this package also includes text from Congressman Moore's bill that would improve the way that schools are approved for the GI bill to help prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

Recently, there has been a rise in schools abusing this benefit. GI bill fraud both takes away a veteran's benefit and wastes taxpayer dollars. This bill would make it much harder for a bad school to be approved for GI bill benefits and well before they could harm veterans.

I thank the Student Veterans of America, the VFW, and Veterans Education Success for assisting us in writing this provision.

I also thank the Office of Inspector General and Inspector General Missal for their hard work in protecting veterans by helping us draft this text.

H.R. 7939, as amended, also includes a GOP proposal that would help improve access to study-abroad programs while using the GI bill.

I thank the Student Veterans of America and other higher education groups for bringing this issue to our attention.

Another proposal in this bill would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to make it easier for military spouses to transfer licenses across the States.

This bipartisan proposal would allow spouses to transfer their State- based medical and professional license when they move due to their spouse's military orders. This is an important change that would help reduce unemployment among military spouses. I thank Congressman Mike Garcia for originally proposing this legislation, and I am pleased to see it in the list of bills today.

The bill also includes the text for H.R. 4702, originally introduced by Congressman Cawthorn, that would help clarify the State that a military spouse can file taxes in when their family is deployed to another State.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7846, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2022. I thank Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Chair Luria and Ranking Member Nehls for introducing this bill.

It would increase the rate of disability compensation and DIC compensation for survivors to keep up with the steep rise in the cost of living. This legislation is absolutely vital in the face of rampant inflation, a potential recession, and a high cost of living under the Biden administration.

We must ensure that our veterans are able to pay their bills and put food on the table for their families. If we do not act, our veterans and their families will bear the burden of the careless financial actions of this administration.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to offer my support today, and I hope my colleagues will do the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Cawthorn).

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7735, as amended, the Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022.

Every veteran deserves the chance to own a home and pursue the American Dream. We know that with increased inflation and economic uncertainty brought on by the failed economic policies of the Biden administration, this dream is harder for veterans to achieve.

With interest rates on the rise, we should do whatever we can to make the VA home loan benefit the best option for veteran home buyers and sellers alike.

We have heard that the time it takes to complete a VA appraisal is a barrier to veterans who want to use the VA home loan program.

My bill would address that issue by requiring VA to update the regulations on how and when the appraisals must be completed.

While not eliminating traditional appraisals, my bill would make the process for veterans to purchase a home more efficient by shortening the appraisal timeline to match industry standards.

It would also require VA to consider when changes to the appraisal process would save a veteran money during the closing process.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the mortgage bankers and the other stakeholders for their work in crafting this bill to help make the VA loan more competitive.

With their support, we have been able to create a solution that I hope will help thousands of veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano for his assistance in moving this bill forward, I urge all of my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5916, as amended, the Wounded Warrior Access Act.

H.R. 5916, as amended, would require VA to establish a secure, public-facing website that veterans can use to request a copy of their VA records. This would make VA more accessible to veterans by modernizing its systems. Specifically, the bill would make it easier for veterans to review their records before they file a claim or appeal.

Over the years, I have heard of increasing concerns from veterans about organizations that attempt to swindle veterans out of their VA benefits. This is unacceptable, and it is about time that we do something about it.

This proposal also would require VA to warn veterans about greedy claims practices when they log into the VA's website. I hope these warnings will prevent veterans from being taken advantage of by these bad actors.

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

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8260, the Faster Payment of Veterans' Survivors Act.

This bill would improve VA's delivery of insurance benefits to survivors. One of the provisions would streamline insurance payments to beneficiaries under the NSLI and the USGLI programs.

Another section would make improvements to the VA's process for identifying and paying the beneficiaries.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Pappas for introducing this bill and for his commitment to help VA honor its obligation to surviving family members.

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

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.