Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. General Bergman is doing a great job.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to join my friends and fellow veterans here today to honor the generations of men and women who have served this great Nation. From the Greatest Generation of veterans to the youngest generation of veterans, we are undeniably lucky to have men and women who are willing to lay down their lives for others.

This Veterans Day comes exactly 2 months after the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

In that sense, it is an even more poignant reminder than usual of the sacrifices veterans have made so that we can be free. For 20 years, soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, guardsmen, reservists, and Special Forces units, in and around Afghanistan prevented another terrorist attack on the homeland. For 20 years, they made the world safer. For 20 years, they gave the Afghanistan people a taste of freedom; the freedom for Afghan women and girls to pursue education and a career; the freedom to play sports, the freedom to be Christian; the freedom to live without oppression and terror.

Like generations of veterans before them, they spent days, months, and years thousands of miles from home. They missed births, birthdays, weddings, funerals, anniversaries and holidays. They protected those they will

never meet. They looked our enemies dead in the eye and refused to accept defeat.

As a veteran, a father, and a grandfather of Active Duty servicemembers, and the lead Republican on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I could not be prouder of the millions of men and women who selflessly answered our country's call throughout our history.

This Veterans Day, I encourage all Americans to pause and remember those who have defended our way of life. Their service should always, always be honored and celebrated. We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.

Last, and certainly not least, I want to share a message for those who may be struggling. If you are a veteran or you know someone who is a veteran who is going through a tough time, please reach out and ask for help. It is the right and brave thing to do. Your service mattered. You matter. The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support to all veterans. Simply call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. Once again, that is: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. Or you can text, 838255. Once again, you can text 838255, or visit www.veteranscrisisline.net. May God bless our veterans, their families, and the United States of America. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, $10,000 a year, an average of $200 a week. Under the Democrats' IRS surveillance plan, that is all you will need to spend before they require the IRS to collect personal information on your bank transactions.

Let's put that in perspective. According to the USDA, an average family of four on a low budget paid roughly $196 per week for groceries in 2019. That is almost enough right there to require your bank to turn over your information.

Now, with skyrocketing inflation and the costs getting higher and higher--and what if you pay rent, have credit card bills, a car payment, or need to buy gas that you can drive back and forth to work to support your family? That can easily exceed the threshold, and probably five times over.

This proposal is not simply targeting the richest Americans or big corporations. It means the IRS would have the personal information of almost every American with a bank account. This is an invasion of your privacy and a serious cybersecurity risk.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, preventing domestic violence and supporting survivors should never be a partisan issue. Unfortunately, this bill makes it one.

First, by removing the prohibition on reimbursements for healthcare services, my colleagues across the aisle would allow for Federal funding from this bill to be used to pay for abortion services.

Secondly, it includes provisions that will effectively bar faith- based organizations from participating in these domestic violence prevention and survivor support programs. These organizations play a vitally important role in providing support to women, children, and families who are in need.

We should be providing survivors with as many lifelines as we can, not alienating care providers based on their religious beliefs.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill to protect the lives of the unborn and request we revisit a clean reauthorization of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, as ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, one of my top priorities is protecting the constitutional rights of our veterans.

Today, I want to raise awareness of a policy that strips law-abiding veterans of their Second Amendment rights; specifically, the policy that requires VA to report veterans who need help managing their VA benefits to the NICS program, thereby making it illegal for them to possess firearms.

To illustrate this practice, I would like to tell you a story about a hypothetical veteran named Joe.

Joe likes to go on hunting trips with his fellow veterans.

These trips are therapeutic for Joe. They give him stress relief and a fun hobby and an opportunity to connect with other veterans.

Unfortunately, Joe begins to suffer from headaches and memory loss, which he believes is linked to an in-service blast injury.

He files a claim for VA disability compensation benefits.

During the claims process, the VA learns that Joe struggles to pay his bills on time because of this traumatic brain injury.

This triggers the VA's requirement to determine if Joe is capable of managing his own VA benefits.

Ultimately, VA decides that Joe requires assistance handling his VA compensation payments.

The VA appoints a fiduciary to receive and manage Joe's VA benefits on his behalf.

As a result of the VA's appointment of a fiduciary, VA must--not by law, but by administrative rule--report Joe to the FBI NICS list.

And just like that, without evidence that Joe is a danger to himself or others, without involving a judge to ensure that Joe's legal rights are protected, without the opportunity for Joe to present his case in court on why he should be able to possess a firearm, Joe loses his Second Amendment rights.

That means that Joe can no longer go on hunting trips with his friends or family.

He can no longer own the hunting rifle his grandfather gave him.

And when Joe's friends learn about it and have learned what happened to him, they decide that they would rather go without their VA benefits and services, instead of risking the same thing happening to them.

That story may be fictional, but some version of it happens across this United States all the time.

The truth is that some veterans forego seeking VA services out of concern that they would lose their constitutional rights; not because there are laws in place, but there is an administrative rule in place.

According to the VA's regulations, the purpose of the fiduciary program is to protect certain VA beneficiaries who cannot manage their VA benefits.

Clearly, the program was never intended to review someone's right to own a firearm.

A decision on a constitutional right should be left to a judicial authority, plain and simple.

Now, my bill, H.R. 1217, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, would make sure that it is.

H.R. 1217 would prevent VA from reporting veterans to the NICS list, unless there is an order from a judge or magistrate that says the veteran may be a harm to himself or herself or others.

This bill allows VA to focus on its mission of caring for veterans, and leaves decisions about whether to strip a veteran of their constitutional rights to the judicial branch as it is supposed to be and it is for any other person who is not a veteran.

If a court finds that that veteran is a danger to themselves or others, then they should not be allowed to own a firearm.

However, it is time we end this policy that the VA has put in place, and we should make sure that we change this, we correct this problem for veterans that are discouraged from seeking help from the VA because of this rule.

We must make this change. If you want to ensure that veterans who need VA are willing to walk through VA's doors, that is how we do it. We make sure that they know their rights are protected.

I urge swift passage of H.R. 1217.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Daniel Heins, who will be retiring at the end of this month from his position as national president of the United Postmasters and Managers of America (UPMA). Dan began his accomplished postal career in Minneapolis, Minnesota in March of 1981 as a distribution and window clerk. He rose through the ranks as a letter carrier, a supervisor, a station manager, and then in 2010, he was appointed postmaster in Stewartville, Minnesota. Prior to his election as UPMA national president, Dan served in various leadership positions within the Minnesota Chapter of UPMA, including district director, executive vice-president, secretary- treasurer, and nine years as a chapter president. Nationally, Dan served in roles as vice-president and secretary-treasurer before being elected president on November 1, 2018. UPMA has 25,000 active and retired members including postmasters, managers, supervisors, retirees and associate members. Dan is committed to making sure that UPMA does everything possible to improve the lives of their members at all levels of the organization. As the organization's first president, Dan worked hard to establish UPMA as a trusted voice among policymakers on Capitol Hill. He was singularly determined to advocate on both sides of the aisle for comprehensive postal reform to ensure that the USPS continues to exist. Dan shared his personal belief in the importance of reform so future employees could have the same opportunities for personal growth that Dan had been blessed with. His passion for being a postmaster and his professional commitment to a successful USPS have been unassailable. In 2019, Dan led a successful UPMA convention and followed up on his commitment to building and growing a dynamic association by having record attendance at the Congressional Summit in early 2020. Hundreds of postmasters who came to Washington under Dan's leadership last year to advocate for postal reform and their benefits. About a month after that successful summit, the COVID-19 public health crisis struck. Dan immediately jumped into action, communicating to policymakers on Capitol Hill the dire situation the USPS was in and the need for supplemental funding to provide PPE and ensure the timely delivery of the unprecedented volume of packages from local stay-at- home orders. In the summer of 2020, Dan and his wife, Karen, traveled the country to a number of UPMA state conventions, demonstrating his commitment to the vitality and success of the Association. Even though the 2020 national convention welcomed only a fraction of its usual attendance, Dan made sure that postmasters continued to come together and be recognized for the essential work they do. In the fall of 2020, as postmasters throughout the country prepared for record vote-by-mail turnout, Dan was a steady voice to his members assuring them that postmasters and postal employees would rise to the challenge. I was proud to meet with my local postmasters from Southern Illinois during this year's Congressional Summit and thank them for the essential service they do every day. Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize Dan Heins for his leadership as president of the United Postmasters of America. I also recognize his wife, Karen, a true partner to Dan whose steadfast support has helped him achieve his success. As a new president takes office, I know that a solid foundation has been built by UPMA because of the work of President Dan Heins.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Madam Speaker, the NDAA is one of the most important bills Congress passes annually. In fact, the past decade, the NDAA has been enacted every year. As such, the NDAA often becomes a grab bag for a variety of priorities. To protect the integrity of this process, I believe the NDAA should focus on strengthening the Department of Defense--its systems, its programs, and its personnel. This amendment would provide an unprecedented $25,000 one-time payment from the VA to World War II merchant marines. Therefore, we should not be discussing this proposal as part of the NDAA.

I thank Representative Green for his advocacy on behalf of the merchant marines, and I support the merchant marines. I am also grateful for the bravery of these men who served during World War II. They faced danger, and some made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

That said, their service has been recognized. The GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 provided a pathway to VA care benefits for civilian groups, known as active duty designees, who supported the Armed Forces in World War II. The merchant marines are considered active duty designees and, as such, received veteran status and eligibility for VA benefits decades ago.

However, this amendment carves out a new benefit for merchant marines unlike anything Congress has authorized in the past, not even for our most highly decorated veterans.

I have heard that merchant marines feel they were shortchanged because they did not receive the GI Bill benefits. However, this bill creates an inequity among other veterans and active duty designees by providing a thank-you payment for merchant marines.

Ultimately, this amendment unfairly singles out one group of service above another. I also have questions about how many merchant marines would be covered under this amendment and why $25,000 was deemed as the appropriate amount.

Considering this bill under regular order before the House Committee of Veterans' Affairs would allow us to ask those questions. It makes more sense to have it done that way. This is why I cannot support this amendment's inclusion in the NDAA tonight.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, as I mentioned, this amendment would provide an unprecedented $25,000 one-time payment for VA World War II merchant marines. It did not go through regular order. It did not go through the committee of jurisdiction. This amendment

should be placed in the committee that has jurisdiction to justify so that if not only this group but other groups would be able and should be able to receive benefits, as this amendment requires, we would be able to do that.

Madam Speaker, I support our merchant marines. I always have. My 20 years in the State legislature, I did just that. As a matter of fact, at every veteran ceremony, I mentioned and brought up our merchant marines as our veterans.

That being said, this is not the way to handle this bill. I plead with the Members of this body not to accept this. I am adamantly opposed. I would love to take it up in the committee, not in this bill where it is not the proper place.

Madam Speaker, 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. 5293, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2021. This bill is sponsored by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), and I thank him for introducing this bill to extend expiring authorities and programs.

The VA Expiring Authorities Act of 2021 would make VA dental insurance programs permanent so that veterans under VA's care are able to buy low-cost dental insurance coverage.

It would also allow veterans to continue to receive travel benefits when seeking support at vet centers.

It would also extend VA's Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed, or CHIP IN for Vets pilot program by an additional 5 years.

The CHIP IN program allows VA to accept real property donations from nongovernment entities. The program was established by Congress in 2016. It

has already proven successful in delivering VA medical facilities to veterans in Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Extending this program has been a priority of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon). I appreciate their leadership on this.

I am also grateful to my fellow House and Senate committee leaders-- Chairman Takano, Chairman Tester, and Ranking Member Moran--for their work on this bill.

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 5293. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I just urge 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 S. 189, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2021. This bill will help ensure that benefits paid to veterans who are disabled as a result of their military service do not lose value because of inflation.

S. 189 authorizes a cost-of-living increase for veterans and their families next year as long as Social Security recipients receive an increase.

Many disabled veterans and their families rely on these compensation benefits to pay their bills, such as mortgage payments and groceries. In some cases, these benefits may even be the veteran's only income. Moreover, VA benefits are providing much-needed financial support to many veterans facing uncertainty due to this pandemic.

We must pass this bill and ensure that compensation benefits for our disabled veterans keep pace with rising costs.

I would like to thank Senator Thune for introducing this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support S. 189.

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 today in support of H.R. 4172, a bill to name the VA community-based outpatient clinic, CBOC, in Aurora, Colorado, after Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley.

Lieutenant Colonel Mosley was one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Mosley served honorably in World War II, as well as the Korean war and the Vietnam war.

Mosley went on to a career in government, serving in D.C. before returning to Colorado as a long-time community leader and advocate.

Congressman Jason Crow from Colorado has introduced this bill to name the VA CBOC in Aurora, Colorado, after Lieutenant Colonel Mosley, and I am in full support and hope that my colleagues will join me.

Mr. Speaker, 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 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. 1281, a bill to name the VA community-based outpatient clinic, or CBOC, in Gaylord, Michigan, the Navy Corpsman Steve Andrews VA Health Care Clinic.

This bill is cosponsored by my friend, fellow marine, and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, General Jack Bergman of Michigan. I thank him for his leadership.

Navy Corpsman Steve Andrews served during the Vietnam war and received both the Navy Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart. He was also an active member of the Gaylord community before and after his time in uniform. It is fitting that the VA CBOC there will carry his name.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman).

Mr. Speaker, I encourage 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 today in support of H.R. 3475, a bill to name the VA community-based outpatient clinic, or the CBOC, in Columbus, Georgia, the Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic. I am grateful to Congressman Sanford Bishop from Georgia for introducing this bill.

Mr. Poydasheff was a soldier in the United States Army for 24 years. He served as an infantry officer in Vietnam and later as a judge advocate. He continued to serve his country and community after his time in the Army by pursuing a career in public service and elected office.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in supporting this bill today in honor of him, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, and I ask all of my colleagues to join me in that, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Illinois State Senator William ``Bill'' Haine, who passed away at the age of 77 on August 16. Bill was born on August 8, 1944 in Alton, Illinois, to Mary and James Haine. In the late 1960s, Bill served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as a member of the First Cavalry Division (Air Mobile) and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in combat operations. After returning home from Vietnam, Bill earned his JD from St. Louis University School of Law. There he met and later married his wife, Anna. They were blessed with seven children: Cecelia Philippine, Elizabeth Schlueter, Mary Burkett, Margaret Balan, Alice Stirton, Thomas, and Joseph, 37 grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Through it all, Bill was always involved in local politics in Madison County. He served on the Madison County Board and then became the State's Attorney for Madison County in 1988--a position he held for 14 years. In 2002, he was appointed to fill the Illinois Senate seat for the 56th district and served in that role for five terms. Madam Speaker, please join me in this celebration of the life of Bill Haine. On behalf of Southern Illinois, I thank Bill for service to our community. My prayers go out to Bill's wife Anna, their family, and friends during this difficult time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 957, the Dispose of Unused Medications and Prescription Opioids Act, or the DUMP Opioids Act.

Last year, Congress passed legislation that would allow veterans to dispose of excess prescription medications at VA medical facilities. The DUMP Opioids Act would allow nonveterans to do the same thing. It would also authorize a VA education campaign to make veterans and nonveterans alike aware of their ability to dispose of leftover medication at the VA.

This bill is sponsored in the Senate by Senator Kennedy and in the House by Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. I am grateful to both of them for their leadership and advocacy on this important issue.

Earlier this month, CDC released data showing that opioid overdose deaths surged throughout the pandemic. In 2020, more than 93,000 Americans died of an overdose. This is an almost 30 percent increase from 2019.

We have to do everything we can to help those suffering from substance abuse disorder to overcome their addiction. One way we can do this is by making controlled substances less readily available. By making it easier for unused opioids and other prescription medication to be disposed of, this bill would help do that.

I hope that every Member will join me in supporting the DUMP Opioids Act.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill as well, 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 S. 1910, the Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2021.

This bill would authorize the VA's major medical facilities construction projects in California, Washington, New York, and Texas. Those projects include outpatient clinics, a specialty care building, a spinal cord injury center, two community living centers, and more.

These projects are formally requested by the VA in the most recent budget submission. They would benefit hundreds, if not thousands, of veterans.

This bill is sponsored by Senator Jon Tester, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. I thank him for introducing it, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it today.

The VA healthcare system has a massive capital assets profile. It is comprised of medical facilities that are, on average, more than five times older than private-sector medical facilities.

In 2018, Congress passed the Asset and Infrastructure Review Act, or the AIR Act, to bring the VA healthcare system into the 21st century. It would lay the foundation to modernize the VA medical facilities to better serve the veterans.

I am proud to support this bill to help deliver updated medical facilities to the veterans in these four States, but we have much more to do to deliver modern medical care to our veterans across this country.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that we can pass this bill today and then continue working together to ensure the AIR Act lives up to the immense promises that it has for the veterans.

Mr. Speaker, 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.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Charles ``Chuck'' Poettker who passed away suddenly on Saturday.

I had the honor of calling Chuck a friend. And I know that he is leaving a legacy that has impacted so many.

A U.S. Army veteran, Chuck served in the 101st Airborne Division stationed at Camp Evans in South Vietnam. At just 20 years old, he and his unit were given orders for a rescue mission in Laos. They were tasked with rescuing two door gunners and recovering the bodies of a downed helicopter pilot and co-pilot. Because of his heroic actions during the mission and journey back to safety, Chuck was awarded the U.S. Army Bronze Star.

A man of faith, Chuck prayed that if he made it out alive, he would dedicate his life to building something of value for others. He did just that.

He returned home and began a career as an apprentice carpenter, taking night classes in construction management at what is now the Southwestern Illinois College. He went on and founded Poettker Construction, leading the company for 41 years. Today, the company employs over 200 families across 26 States.

He was also committed to his community and giving back to the Metro East area there in southern Illinois through numerous charities.

Madam Speaker, my prayers go out to Chuck's wife, Linda, and his family and many friends during this difficult time.

Supporting Apprenticeships for Veterans

Madam Speaker, I also rise today to talk about the fact that when I ran Bost Trucking company for 10 years, many of our hardest workers and most trusted employees shared something in common. They were veterans.

The military teaches servicemembers invaluable skills, leadership, teamwork, and dedication to compete and complete the missions that they are assigned. But many veterans are facing challenges in finding work after COVID-19 shutdowns. That is why I have introduced the Veterans' Agricultural Apprenticeship Act.

This bipartisan bill will help connect out-of-work veterans with farmers and ranchers who are in need of on-the-farm labor. It will help farmers and ranchers expand their operations while also offering the veterans new skills and career paths once they return home.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Florida (Mr. Lawson) and our bipartisan group of 15 additional cosponsors for supporting this critically important bill. I hope that more of our colleagues will join us in helping advance a win-win solution to an ever-growing problem.