Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2392) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2025, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2392. Each year, Congress passes the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act.

The legislation ensures that VA compensation benefits for veterans and their survivors keep pace with inflation and the cost of living. Millions of veterans and their loved ones depend on these benefits to pay for daily living expenses.

This bill would help them meet that need by increasing certain VA benefits to the same percentage as the annual Social Security cost-of- living adjustment increase.

I recognize this is something we could and should have taken up sooner, and there was real concern that if the shutdown dragged on, VA might not have had the staff in place to implement the COLA on time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsors of this bill, Senators Moran and Blumenthal, for their bipartisan work on this vitally important bill to ensure our veterans get their benefits. I also thank Representative Luttrell for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 2392, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell), who himself is a decorated veteran and knows these issues very well.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Moylan), my good friend.

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all of our Members to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank our veterans. This is the right piece of legislation and something that we need to do, and make sure we do every year, to make sure that those costs of living are covered for our veterans and their survivors.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and recognize the heroic veterans of the Chosin Few.

Seventy-five years ago, in the bitter winter of 1950, 30,000 United Nations forces, most of them United States Marines, were surrounded by more than 120,000 Chinese troops near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. Facing the freezing conditions, overwhelming odds, and heavy casualties, these men executed a successful fighting retreat to the port of Hungnam. In doing so, these heroes evacuated over 100,000 troops and civilians, through unyielding courage, sacrifice, and determination.

The Battle of Chosin Reservoir is remembered not only for the extreme conditions that were faced, but more importantly the courage of those who fought. Over the course of 14 days, 17 Medals of Honor and 78 Service Cross Medals were awarded to these men for their actions in combat.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the Chosin Few and in recognizing the enduring legacy of courage, sacrifice, and freedom that their service represents.

Madam Speaker, I rise to include in the Record the following letter of support for H.R. 2701 from National Commander Scott P. Stevens, CW04, USA, (R).

The Jewish War Veterans of the USA supports H.R. 2701, the

Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act. JWV

appreciates the leadership of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

(D-FL) and Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) for their bipartisan

introduction, as well as the support of the House Veterans

Affairs Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs and

the Full Committee in moving this critical legislation to the

House floor. JWV urges swift passage of H.R. 2701 to start

the process of properly marking graves and honoring these

brave Jewish American servicemembers.

The Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration

Act requires the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)

to create a program to identify Jewish servicemembers buried

with grave markers that do not reflect their faith and to

connect with their descendants. This vital effort will

correct the historical record and ensure our fallen heroes

are remembered as they lived and served.

JVW understands that approximately 900 American-Jewish

servicemembers who lost their lives during World War I and

World War II and were buried in U.S. military cemeteries

overseas (ABMC) were mistakenly interred under markers that

do not represent their religion or heritage. JVW recognizes

that most of these errors are unintentional; however, these

mistakes hide the identity and legacy of those who made the

ultimate sacrifice for our country. American-Jewish

servicemembers served with honor and bravery, playing a

crucial role in winning the Allied victory. They deserve to

be remembered with dignity and accuracy.

The United States has a solemn duty to ensure every fallen

servicemember is honored correctly Enacting H.R. 2701 helps

ensure that the Star of David marks the Jewish graves of

servicemembers, currently marked in error.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1107) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize certain heath care professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver, distribute, or dispense to veterans certain controlled medications via telemedicine under certain conditions, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1107, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1107 offered by Representative Womack.

This bill would allow telemedicine prescriptions for controlled substances at VA even before an in-person medical exam.

During the COVID pandemic, VA waived requirements for an in-person appointment. As a result, providers could prescribe controlled substances by telemedicine. This waiver was helpful for continuity of care during the pandemic.

We also realized that many veterans received more access than before due to this waiver. I cannot tell you how many times veterans in rural areas have told me stories about hours they have to drive to receive care or a prescription from the VA.

Representative Womack's bill would close the loop and modernize the delivery of prescriptions by making the current waiver permanent.

While telemedicine will never totally replace in-person care, the VA must be granted the tools to deliver 21st century healthcare. This bill would remove burdens on veterans who need VA care so they can get it sooner by telemedicine.

I will continue to do whatever I can to ease access to care and critical treatment for veterans living in rural areas of this country. This bill would give VA power to meet the moment and the use of the latest medicine and technology for veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1107, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack), the sponsor of this legislation and my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2334) to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to preempt any squatter's rights established by State law regarding real property owned by a member of the uniformed services, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2334, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2334, as amended, offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast), my friend and colleague.

This bill would protect servicemembers' homes from squatters while they are away on Active Duty. Under current law, servicemembers are not clearly protected under various State adverse possession laws. Due to this lack of protection, a squatter might be able to move in and make a claim to that servicemember's home when that servicemember is deployed.

This is outrageous. We must ensure that servicemembers can return to their homes following a deployment without the worry that someone might be occupying their home and that they will be forced to get into a costly legal battle to get their home back.

Mr. Speaker, it should go without saying that this should not be happening, and I will do what I can to protect our servicemembers.

This important bill would also require the VA and Department of Justice to work together to provide updated information to servicemembers about their rights.

I thank Chairman Mast for bringing this issue to the committee's attention and championing this legislation. We must ensure that servicemembers' homes are not occupied by squatters while a servicemember is away serving our great country.

I look forward to continuing to work with the ranking member this fall on a bipartisan piece of legislation like this one that puts veterans' and servicemembers' needs first.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2334, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1860) to designate Regional Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinators to expand the work of the Breast and Gynecologic Oncology System of Excellence at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1860, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1860, as amended, offered by Representative Sylvia Garcia of Texas.

This bill would create coordinators within each of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks to help veterans navigate cancer care. Specifically, this bill aims to improve care coordination for common cancers in women.

No person wants to hear that they have or that their loved one has cancer. Having the resources to navigate such a difficult time can make all the difference in the treatment journey.

VA must give women veterans who have to navigate cancer treatments the highest quality care that we can offer them. Whether it is screening, diagnosis, treatment, or recovery, our women veterans have earned top-notch support from VA every step of the way. More women veterans than ever before are using VA.

My friend, the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), recently hosted a hearing to discuss improving care for women veterans. This bill builds on our work to ensure this population of veterans has access to the modern care that they have earned.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 1860, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. I am ready to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3400) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assign physicians of the Department of Veterans Affairs to temporarily serve as traveling physicians in the territories and possessions of the United States, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3400, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3400, as amended, offered by my colleague on the Veterans' Affairs Committee Representative King-Hinds.

This bill would give the VA Secretary the power to assign traveling physicians for up to 1 year at a time in the U.S. territories to deliver care.

The VA provides healthcare in five U.S. territories in the Pacific and Atlantic. In the Pacific, the VA has one medical center in Honolulu, Hawaii. There are three outpatient clinics in American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. In the Atlantic, the VA has one medical center in Puerto Rico. There are 10 outpatient clinics across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Based on the most recent data we have, the VA Pacific system served 7,200 enrolled veterans. The VA Caribbean system serves 61,000 enrolled veterans. The veterans in these parts of the world are forced to spend time and money to get their hard-earned care. For example, a veteran in Guam must travel 4,000 miles for care in Honolulu. A veteran in the Virgin Islands has to fly to Puerto Rico to receive care at the VA Medical Center there. The TRAVEL Act would expand the reach of VA care by putting physicians where the veterans live.

I thank Representative King-Hinds, my friend, for her leadership on this bill to get veterans in remote parts of the world the healthcare they have earned. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3400, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Ms. King-Hinds).

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3767) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a time frame for the employment in the Department of Veterans Affairs of participants in the Health Professionals Scholarship Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3767, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3767, as amended, offered by my friend and colleague, Representative Hamadeh.

This bill would hold the VA to a deadline to hire participants in the Health Professionals Scholarship Program.

The scholarship was created to address chronic workforce shortages. Critical healthcare jobs, like nurses, physician assistants, and mental health providers, continue to be short-staffed and need good people in these roles.

Right now, VA pays for scholarship enrollees' education in return for several years of service to the VA.

Unfortunately, there have been cases where VA can take months before offering them a position. Sometimes, people in the program are forced to break the agreement because of bureaucracy delays at the VA. They seek work elsewhere just to make ends meet.

Representative Hamadeh's bill would ensure that VA is properly staffed by making VA fulfill its end of the bargain.

This bill also includes language from Representative Neal Dunn's bill, which would prohibit smoking on VHA campuses.

Since the nineties, VA has issued policies to provide safer smoking environments. Then, in March 2019, VA issued its most recent policy for a smoke-free VHA. This bill would align law with the current VA practice.

Patients and VA employees have a right to be protected from the harmful medical effects of secondhand smoke. This bill would do just that. Many private-sector healthcare systems already have smoke-free policies.

This bill, as amended, would take important steps to improve VA healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3767, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hamadeh), the sponsor of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2721) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and carry out a pilot program to furnish a headstone or burial marker to veterans who died on or before November 1, 1990, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2721, as amended. This bill would establish a 7-year pilot program to allow eligible survivors or veteran representatives to request a VA-furnished headstone or marker for veterans buried in private cemeteries, who died during or after World War II.

Under current law, the National Cemetery Administration may only furnish a headstone or marker for graves of eligible veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990. If this veteran and their family have not already received an equivalent benefit, this bill would allow the veteran's family to honor their military service.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2721, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.

In closing, once again, I stand in strong support of this legislation, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3579) to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the Veterans Readiness and Employment program of Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3579, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3579 offered by my friend and colleague, Representative Ciscomani of Arizona. This bill would make needed modernizations to the VA's Veterans Readiness and Employment program, the VR&E program.

Over the last 2 years, our committee has uncovered disastrous wait times, fraud, waste, and abuse in the VA's VR&E program. This bill would steer the ship in the right direction by establishing more oversight of the program.

It is the duty of Congress to make sure that veterans who complete this workforce program are earning more and are in a better spot than they were before entering the program. VR&E currently does not track those results.

At a recent hearing, VA told the committee that 45 percent of veterans who successfully complete the program reenter it later. This does not show that the program is working for veterans. In fact, Mr. Speaker, it shows that the VR&E needs an overhaul. It is time to reform VR&E so that veterans can receive the training they need to find a meaningful career field that is fit for them.

This bill would also implement better practices for transparency on wait times to allow veterans to better plan for their future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Ciscomani, for sponsoring this bill to improve job training access for veterans. My committee will continue to seek ways to level the playing field for veterans seeking employment so that every veteran has access to the opportunity they want all the while protecting the taxpayers' investment in these programs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3579, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the great State of Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I, once again, encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3951) to amend the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 and the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 to improve the temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3951, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3951, introduced by my colleague Representative Ciscomani from Arizona.

This bill would extend the license portability authority for contracted medical professionals conducting compensation and pension examinations for veterans until 2031. These exams are a vitally important part of going through the VA benefits process.

Veterans living in rural or underserved areas often need to travel far distances for their exams. Veterans in my district know this hurdle firsthand and the impact it can have on dragging out the timeline for them to receive their disability benefits.

Congress created the authority to expand the net for qualified, contracted medical professionals. By ensuring more contracted medical professionals can perform these exams, veterans would have greater access to their benefits closer to home.

Under current law, license portability only applies to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists. This bill would expand that authority to include even more providers who are eligible for employment at the VA to perform medical disability examinations. This is a necessary expansion to the VA's exam programs to get even more qualified people serving veterans.

I thank Representative Ciscomani for his leadership on this bill and his efforts to increase access to disability benefits for our Nation's veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3951, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3854) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan to expand the use of certain automation tools in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3854, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3854, as amended, sponsored by Representative Valadao.

This bill would require the VA to review existing claims, automation tools, and submit a plan to Congress on improving, modifying, or creating new tools to support claims processors.

These improvements would, in return, help the VA automatically retrieve veterans' records, compile evidence, automate Federal Government data sharing, and generate notice letters to veterans. These improvements are common sense and would lead to more efficient and accurate decisions on benefit claims.

This bill would require the VA to detail how it would provide these improvements to other benefit programs in the Veterans Benefits Administration.

This bill also includes Representative Edwards' bill, the Justice for American Veterans and Survivors Act of 2025. Importantly, this provision would require the VA to publish an annual report for the next 5 years on the cause and manner of death among veterans rated 100 percent, our totally disabled veteran community.

The VA currently supports over 506,000 surviving spouses. However, the VA does not track the cause and manner of death among recently deceased totally disabled veterans. Data like this is critical to ensuring that the VA programs for surviving family members meet their needs.

The report would also require the VA to publish the total number of prevalent causes and manners of death among these veterans to better identify trends.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their work to ensure that the VA continues to develop the tools it needs to effectively deliver benefits. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3854, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards).

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2034) to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the requirements of the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2034, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2034, as amended, offered by my colleague, Representative Nikki Budzinski of Illinois.

This bill would make needed improvements to the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship education benefits program.

Currently, the program is underused because of bureaucratic red tape that limits who is eligible for the scholarship. This mistake made by previous Congresses has prevented the STEM scholarship from helping those who are most in need.

While I believe more information is necessary to fully improve the program, this bill is a step in the right direction. I thank our colleague, Nikki Budzinski, for her support of this legislation. Additionally, I thank my friend and fellow Representative, Abraham Hamadeh of Arizona, for cosponsoring this legislation.

Representative Hamadeh's advocacy on this bill has been pivotal to getting it on the House floor today to cut through the red tape and improve education benefit access.

Finally, I thank The American Legion and Paralyzed Veterans of America for their support of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 2034, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers at this time. I am ready to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, once again I encourage all Members to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2701) to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2701, as amended, offered by Representative Wasserman Schultz.

This bill would propel VA to identify and correct the gravestones of fallen American-Jewish servicemembers who were killed in World War I and World War II.

An estimated 900 American-Jewish servicemembers were mistakenly buried under a Latin cross headstone at overseas U.S. veterans cemeteries. This bill would seek to right this wrong by creating the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program. It would direct the ABMC, which maintains our cemeteries overseas, to contract with nonprofit organizations to identify these servicemembers and correct this to properly honor them.

Since the Revolutionary War, Jewish Americans have fought to defend our Nation's freedoms. Madam Speaker, it should go without saying that they deserve to be honored properly with the dignity that they have earned.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, H.R. 2701, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3481) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for electronic communication relating to educational assistance benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3481, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3481, as amended, offered by my friend and colleague, Representative Tom Barrett from Michigan.

This bill would allow veterans to opt in to receive messages digitally regarding the GI Bill education benefit.

Under current law, veterans in education programs can only receive time-sensitive information from VA through the mail. The outdated practice forces veterans to wait weeks for information they could receive in minutes through a text message.

Further, this bill would modernize VA's Solid Start program by authorizing it to communicate with veterans via text message. Right now, VA is only able to reach out to veterans in Solid Start by calling them. While the older generation of veterans pick up the phone, the VA Solid Start program has seen a concerning drop-off among younger veterans. This bill would bridge the gap in communication.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Barrett for championing this bill and for finding solutions in the technology space to ensure student veterans and transitioning servicemembers are receiving up-to- date and timely information.

Madam Speaker, this bill is in lockstep with the Republican majority's efforts to properly propel VA to meet veterans where they are.

Madam Speaker, I also thank Representative Van Orden for his continued efforts to make necessary improvements to the Transition Assistance Program, or the TAP program.

Under my leadership, my committee will continue to honor its commitment to all veterans, ensuring the VA is working for our veterans.

Madam Speaker, I also give special thanks to The American Legion, the PVA, and the VFW for their support.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3481, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Barrett), who is the sponsor of this bill.

Madam Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation.

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

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.