Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009.

Last week the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that during the month of November there were over one million unemployed veterans in this country. The report also showed that the unemployment rate among our newest cohort of veterans ages 18-24 remains extremely high at 20 percent. Moreover, 700,000 of that million are between the ages of 35 and 64, the years of both the highest earning power and the highest financial needs to pay mortgages and tuitions. I ask unanimous consent that the relevant page from the December Bureau of Labor Statistics Report be included in the Record with my remarks.

These numbers paint a very disturbing picture of the obstacles veterans face. These men and women have put their lives on the line in the defense of freedom and democracy around the globe, so we must do a better job of helping these warriors find suitable employment opportunities when they return home.

That is why I have introduced the Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009. The first title of this bill focuses on providing funding and incentives for veterans to pursue training and education that would provide employment opportunities for them in the new economy. It would create a new troops to teachers program to pay new teachers who are veterans and are teaching in a rural area $500 a month stipend. It would also provide a zip code based housing stipend for unemployed veterans who are participating in a VA approved OJT/Apprenticeship Program.

The second title of the bill focuses on promoting and expanding veteran owned and service disabled veteran owned small businesses. It would reauthorize the VA Veteran Owned Small Business Loan Guaranty Program which would guarantee loans for veteran owned small businesses up to $500,000. It would also allow VA to enter into sole source contracts with veteran owned small businesses in the same way they can with 8(a) firms.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, firms with fewer than 500 employees accounted for 64 percent--or 14.5 million--of the 22.5 million net new jobs between 1993 and the third quarter of 2008. I firmly believe that veteran owned small businesses can become a driving force in this nation's recovery and this bill will help make that a reality.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor this needed legislation.

Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Improvement Act of 2009. This legislation addresses serious long-term procurement problems within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and would provide the VA with greater oversight of its contracting and asset management processes.

VA has annual expenditures of more than $14.1 billion for supplies, services, and construction. The Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 is a first step to provide a centralized oversight and policy for contracting and acquisition within the Department by streamlining business operations under an Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Construction and Asset Management. This bill will improve procurement processes by:

Establishing the position of the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Acquisition, Construction and Asset Management who would serve as the Chief Acquisition Officer for the VA.

Providing an appropriate structure for acquisition policy and oversight over contracts and purchases.

Requiring the Secretary to establish and maintain a comprehensive centralized Department-wide acquisition program, and to develop a streamlined approach to purchasing goods and services.

Providing VA the authority to use personal services contracts to ensure patients at VA medical facilities are provided quality contract care without unnecessary expenses.

Authorizing the VA to have complete responsibility and auditing authority for the two Federal Supply Schedules delegated to the VA by the General Services Administration.

Providing a clear definition for small business concerns to be listed in the database of veteran-owned businesses maintained by the VA.

I am pleased to be joined by a number of members in introducing this much needed legislation, and urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, in a few days, all of us are going to be going back to our districts. We are going to be celebrating Veterans Day. Many of you are going to be giving speeches. You are going to be throwing your arms around the soldier, the marine, the sailor, the airman, the coastguardsman. Do you throw your arm around them in this bill? You don't.

And when you go home and you give that speech, you can tap into the American character and you can say, Americans go to a land where they've never been to fight for a people that they've never met. They do so at no bounty of their own, and they leave freedom in their footsteps. Yet when they get to come home, how does our Congress right now treat them? In this 2,000-page bill, we deny them their rights of choice with regard to the health system which they can go to. Can you imagine that?

Now, I received a pledge not only from the Speaker, but also from the leadership, that veterans would be taken care of in this bill. My amendments were denied last night in the Rules Committee. How do you deny veterans their choice in this bill?

Shame on this institution.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Will the gentleman yield?

We do not. Mr. Speaker, we don't protect veterans' rights.

* * *

I ask that----

I will.

Just protect veterans and I'll go sit down.

Mr. Speaker, the President and the Democrat leaders here in Congress are not listening to the American people. Today, our Nation's unemployment rate is 10.2 percent, the highest level in 26 years. This is an astounding level of unemployment. It tells only part of the story of the struggles Americans are experiencing and Washington is ignoring.

A deeper look at the unemployment numbers reveals the true costs of the Obama-Pelosi economic policies. The actual unemployment rate in America is 17.5 percent. When the currently unemployed, those who are unable to find work and those who have given up looking for jobs are included, it is 17.5 percent unemployment.

We must focus on the economy first. We should start by cutting government spending to shore up the U.S. dollar. We should encourage job creation in the private sector and increase private investment. We must rely on the proven methods to get our economy back on track such as an immediate tax relief, decreasing the capital gains tax rates, and reducing the tax burdens on small business.

We are living in an economy in despair as we face a two-front war. The President needs to address the economy first; and, as Commander in Chief, he needs to make a decision on Afghanistan.

Mr. President, you cannot vote ``present'' on Afghanistan. You need to make a decision.

Instead, he and the Democrat leadership are jamming legislation through Congress with massive spending increases, bailouts, greater government control of businesses, and job-destroying taxes and regulations, all while leaving our troops in limbo in Afghanistan.

Washington has it all wrong. Unfortunately, the President, Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Leader Reid are proceeding with a 2,032-page bill that promotes the government takeover of health care; and most Republicans have been shut out of the process.

With little room for engagement, though, I have been successful to help improve a bill that I do not like. I have done this for a reason. It is because of our veterans. I have been able to provide important protections for our veterans and servicemembers who would have been significantly impacted by this health bill had the Democrats had their way at the beginning. I have been able to ensure that the veterans enrolled in VA health care cannot be hit with a 2.5 percent tax. Also, I sought to ensure that the VA is reimbursed by the government-run health plan for nonservice-connected care it provides to the veterans. I appreciate them including these amendments.

After succeeding with an amendment to ensure veterans and servicemembers have the ability to obtain additional health care in the health insurance exchange created by H.R. 3962, my amendment was altered; and, under H.R. 3962, veterans' and servicemembers' choice of health insurance will be left to the administration to determine.

Again today I tried to fix this with an amendment, but it was denied in the Rules Committee. A number of veterans and military groups, including the VFW, share these concerns and support the amendment that I submitted to the Rules Committee today. I will include for the Record the letters from the AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association and the Retired Enlisted Association.

Our veterans and military organizations in support of the Buyer- McKeon amendments are the VFW, the Air Force Sergeants Association, MOAA, the Association of the United States Army, National Military Family Association, and the Enlisted Army National Guard, U.S.

Also, there are Members who are cosponsoring these amendments: Jerry Moran of Kansas, Henry Brown of South Carolina, Jeff Miller of Florida, Brian Bilbray of California, Doug Lamborn of Colorado, Gus Bilirakis of Florida, Dr. Phil Roe of Tennessee, Vern Buchanan of Florida, and Rodney Alexander of Louisiana.

Our veterans have earned the VA health care as well as the liberty to choose whatever other coverage they prefer. I find it outrageous that the government would attempt to dictate where and how these veterans and servicemembers would obtain health care.

Additionally, under H.R. 3962, the authorities of the VA and DOD Secretaries are jeopardized, and the health care systems that they oversee could be affected by the new health care czar created in all but one section of this bill. Again, the Democrat leadership has not addressed this issue that I sought to address, and these amendments have been denied today.

As the Blinded Veterans Association stated in their letter to me: ``It is critical to ensure that the authority of the Secretary of the VA and the Secretary of DOD could never be challenged or obstructed by any provision in the bill or by a Secretary or a commissioner from another sector of government.''

Finally, it is important to note that under H.R. 3962, veterans and servicemembers enrolled in VA health care and TRICARE will not be eligible for the affordable tax credits . . . available to other Americans living under 400% of the federal poverty level. I submitted an amendment, which would have allowed individuals enrolled in VA health care and TRICARE to receive these tax credits, and this amendment was denied consideration by the Democrats.

I oppose H.R. 3962. This legislation restricts veterans' health care options and imposes a sweeping government takeover of our nation's health care system, and I support the Republican plan to improve our nation's health care and lower premiums, thereby increasing access to quality healthcare.

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Republican health care reform legislation would reduce health insurance premiums by up to 10 percent for employees working in small businesses, up to 8 percent for individuals who do not have access to employer- provided health insurance and up to 3 percent for employees who get coverage through large businesses.

All told, under the Republican plan, health insurance premiums would cost Americans nearly $5,000 less than the least costly option under Speaker Pelosi's plan. All of this without a government takeover of our health care system and \1/6\ of our nation's economy.

The Democrats' plan is not about insuring the uninsured or bringing down health care costs. In fact, under Democrat proposals in Congress, up to 114 million Americans could lose the private health insurance that they enjoy today, and CBO found that the House Democrats' bill will make health insurance more expensive than it is now, raising insurance premiums about 30 percent more than currently projected by the year 2016.

We must focus on the uninsured and the uninsurable. The Republican health care plan does just that by creating new health insurance options for small businesses--the economic engines of our economy-- enacting real medical liability reform so that physicians can continue to focus on their patients and not junk lawsuits, guaranteeing affordable health insurance for individuals with preexisting conditions, protection seniors' Medicare benefits, and lowering health care premiums for all Americans.

Our nation's health care system can be improved without increasing taxes and jeopardizing the jobs we still have in America. The President and Democrat leadership in Congress must reorganize their priorities. They must stop focusing on job-killing policies. It is time to start listening to Americans and fix our economy first.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3949, the Veterans' Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009, a bill which I am pleased to cosponsor.

Mr. Speaker, this is an omnibus bill that would make improvements in several areas of veterans legislation by including provisions from bills introduced by Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin, Ms. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Miller of North Carolina, Mr. Connolly, Mr. McIntyre, Ms. Jackson-Lee, and Mr. Frank.

However, I am very disappointed that due to jurisdictional issues raised by the majority side of the Committee on Small Business, a provision from my bill, H.R. 3223 was withdrawn from the bill. My provision would merely change the word ``may'' to ``shall'' to authorize VA contracting officers to award non-competitive contracts worth less than $5,000,000 to qualified service disabled veteran-owned businesses. Such contracts would also be required to provide the best value to the government in the judgment of the contracting officer. Changing ``may'' to ``shall'' would merely put service-disabled veterans on an equal footing with businesses qualifying as an 8(a) firm under the Small Business Act. The word ``shall'' is used when awarding noncompetitive contracts to 8(a) firms. The disparity created by using ``may'' versus ``shall'' has a negative effect on the ability of service disabled veteran-owned businesses to obtain contracts with VA. It is important that service-disabled veterans are able to compete on a level field and I will continue to advocate for changing ``may'' to ``shall''.

Mr. Speaker, I am especially proud of the provisions in Public Law 109-461 passed during the 109th Congress, that improve the competitive status of veteran-owned businesses, VOB, and service-disabled veteran- owned small businesses, SDVOB. We did that by giving Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, contracting officers additional tools to award contracts to those businesses and by making it plain that Congress believed that VOB and SDVOB have priority in VA small business contracting. One of those provisions required VA to maintain a database of veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and to verify the ownership and control of the businesses listed in the database.

Unfortunately, VA has been slow to implement the verification process and has currently

verified only about 2,000 of the 15,000 businesses listed in the database. Therefore, I am delighted that Subcommittee Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin has clarified Congress' intent on having a business included only after verification of ownership and control as a means to prevent awarding contracts to businesses which are not veteran-owned.

With the implementation of the new Post 9/11 GI Bill, it is more important than ever to ensure VA receives up-to-date advice from schools and State Approving Agencies on issues related to veterans education. I congratulate Ms. Kirkpatrick for extending the life of the Advisory Committee on Veterans Education through 2015.

I am also especially pleased with H.R. 3949's provisions that would strengthen protections for servicemembers under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, SCRA, by clarifying the rights and obligations of servicemembers and providers regarding service contracts for cell phone service, residential and automobile leases.

The bill also makes important changes to SCRA by codifying a servicemember's private right of action and authorizing the U.S. Attorney General to bring appropriate action in U.S. District Courts. The bill also authorizes the Courts to award fines up to $110,000, and take other appropriate actions in violations of SCRA.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to direct injuries to a servicemember's eyes, one of the hidden injuries of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is the damage to vision done by explosions. Unfortunately, visual injuries as a result of one or more concussive injuries may not manifest for an extended time beyond the event. When combined with direct eye injuries, the number of veterans who will be seeking VA assistance with visual impairment will increase and I share Ms. Jackson-Lee's and her cosponsor, Mr. Boozman's concern that VA lacks sufficient staff who are experts in treating veterans with visual and mobility impairment. I congratulate them for the provisions that would create a scholarship program for those seeking a degree or certificate in that field.

Mr. Speaker, I have long been an advocate on behalf of VA's National Cemetery System and compassionate treatment of the heroes that are buried there and their families. I appreciate Mr. Frank's initiative that would allow burial of a parent with a servicemember killed in combat or training for combat, as long as the burial would not displace another veteran or servicemember and it is limited to servicemembers who have no dependents.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 858, I was unavoidably detained and therefore did not vote on passage of H. Res. 868, honoring and recognizing the service and achievements of current and former female members of the Armed Forces. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I am very disappointed that I must vote against the conference report for H.R. 2647, the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act, because it includes ``hate crimes'' provisions of H.R. 1913. The provisions were added by the Senate in an effort to facilitate the social engineering and partisan political agenda of the Democrat leadership in Congress. The ``hate crimes'' language has absolutely nothing to do with the funding and equipping of our servicemembers, and it is especially unfortunate that such a blatant partisan action would be taken during a time of war when our nation's sons and daughters are in harm's way. My no vote supports the values, goals, and mission of the United States military.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to support H. Res. 679, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of American Legion Day.

The American Legion is our nation's largest and oldest veterans' organization, and has been a steadfast supporter of our Armed Forces and veterans since Congress issued the venerable organization a federal charter on September 16, 1919.

The American Legion has always proven itself to be a tremendous national asset that stands by our troops and veterans. The stalwart patriotism, leadership, and faith in our great country of its 2.7 million members are most commendable.

Having grown up in a Legion family, I know firsthand the commendable programs and services The American Legion provides to veterans and communities. My mother is a former Auxiliary President for the Department of Indiana, so I am especially appreciative of the dedication and devotion of the members of The American Legion and its Auxiliary. They have raised millions of dollars for the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund to help fund the education of children who have lost a parent in our nation's service.

Another program, Heroes to Hometowns, works as part of the government's seamless transition effort to coordinate with the communities to ensure returning heroes and their families have the resources needed for a successful transition. The American Legion family also has over 6,000 volunteers that provide countless hours of services each year to their fellow veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my full and heartfelt support for this resolution to support the goals and ideals of American Legion Day and to call upon the people of the United States to observe American Legion Day with appropriate programs and activities.

Madam Speaker, today I join my good friends and colleagues, Mike Michaud of Maine and Henry Brown of South Carolina, in introducing the Severely Injured Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2009. This bill will provide increased benefits to our most severely injured veterans.

Madam Speaker, as servicemembers are returning from the Global War on Terror with

more severe and complex injuries than in previous conflicts, the services and benefits that the Department of Veteran Affairs provides must change as well in reflection of their needs.

This bill recognizes this need and provides significant increases for these veterans and their families. The bill increases compensation for catastrophically injured veterans who are in need of regular aide and attendance by fifty percent. Qualifying veterans would receive a monthly payment of $7,552, and those in need of the highest level of care would receive $8,642.

We are all aware of the impact of attending to daily personal needs such as bathing and eating can have on family caregivers. Increasing the rate of the aid and attendance benefit for veterans would support family caregivers who experience a loss of income, and allow veterans to remain in their homes.

This legislation would also expand eligibility for aid and attendance benefits to include veterans with service connected residuals of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). It would permit these veterans in need of constant supervision and assistance to remain in their residences rather than being institutionalized.

More servicemembers of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom are surviving blast head injuries cause by an IED explosion than in any previous war. These servicemembers and veterans may not have any physical disabilities, but may suffer extreme cognitive disabilities as a result. A veteran with severe TIM can require constant supervision and assistance to perform all activities of daily living. However, current law does not provide veterans with severe TBIs with the same level of compensation that is available to veterans with severe physical disabilities.

Further, the bill codifies a U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims ruling that protects non-service connected pension payments for elderly, indigent, and severely disabled or house-bound American veterans. The bill also increases this benefit by ten percent.

It would also authorize veterans with severe burns to receive specially adapted auto grants.

Lastly, the bill honors the recipients of our nation's highest award for bravely by doubling the monthly pension given to Medal of Honor Recipients to $2,000.

Madam Speaker, this bill makes all of these needed improvements without new increases in direct spending. I urge my colleagues to join me in improving the lives of these veterans by co-sponsoring this bipartisan bill.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010.

Requesting Member: Congressman Steve Buyer

Bill Number: H.R. 3326

Account: DoD RDT&E, Technology Transfer

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Technology Service Corporation

Address of Requesting Entity: 116 West Sixth St., Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47404

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $5,000,000 to continue support of the National Radio Frequency Research, Development, and Technology Transfer Center, which provides an efficient method of transitioning new technologies into DoD programs of record to provide for performance improvements at lower cost for the war fighter.

Requesting Member: Congressman Steve Buyer

Bill Number: H.R. 3326

Account: USAF RDT&E, Technology Transfer

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Purdue University

Address of Requesting Entity: 610 Purdue Mall, Hovde Hall, West Lafayette, IN 49707

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,640,000 to continue the development of the multi-faceted National Test Facility for Aerospace Fuels Propulsion, which supports development and testing of alternative energy sources for aerospace equipment, is aligned with the Civil Aviation Alternative Fuel Initiative, and compliments DoD's commitment to transition all aircraft for flight on synthetic fuel blends.

Madam Speaker, today I pay tribute to Jackie S. Rowles, CRNA, MBA, MA, FAAPM, of Indiana. Ms. Rowles will soon complete her year as national president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). I am very pleased that a fellow Hoosier served as the 2008-2009 President of this prestigious national organization.

Celebrating its 78th Anniversary, the AANA is the professional organization that represents more than 40,000 practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Founded in 1931, the AANA is the professional association representing CRNAs nationwide. As you may know, CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who administer more than 27 million anesthetics in the United States each year. CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, the U.S. military, Public Health Services, Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities, and finally, like Ms. Rowles, some are specialists in the management of pain.

Ms. Rowles was educated in the art and science of Nurse Anesthesia, at the Truman Medical Center, in Kansas City, Missouri. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana. In addition, Ms. Rowles also holds a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Biology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Memphis State University in Memphis, Tennessee. Currently, she is an Anesthetist within the Meridian Health Group, which provides pain management services in and around the Indianapolis area.

Ms. Rowles has held numerous leadership positions in the AANA as Regional Director, Vice-President, and President-elect before becoming the National President of the AANA in 2008. In addition, Jackie has served terms as President, President-Elect, and Secretary, for the Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists (INANA). She has received the Excellence Award from the Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists; the Outstanding Nursing Alumni Award from Ball State University; and the AANA Alice Magaw Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award. Ms. Rowles has been a Member of the Indiana Commission on Health Care Excellence; a Member of the Accreditation Association Ambulatory Health Care; Associate Member in the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and Indiana Society of IPP; a Member of the Society of Pain Management; and finally, a Fellow and Member of the Board of Directors in the American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM). Considered an expert in interventional pain management, Jackie Rowles developed a nationally recognized system of CRNA skill competency assessment that has served as a tool in patient safety initiatives.

Adding to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Rowles has been recognized for speaking on anesthesia- and pain management-related topics over the years. During her AANA Presidency, Ms. Rowles advocated for CRNAs and patients before the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and other federal agencies. In addition, Ms. Rowles directed that the AANA be represented before this Congress to testify about the contributions of CRNAs in the Veterans Affairs and military health systems. Finally, Ms. Rowles has been an invaluable advocate for the value of CRNAs in health reform.

Madam Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the outgoing President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Ms. Jackie S. Rowles, CRNA, MBA, MA, FAAPM, for her notable career and outstanding achievements. And, on a personal note, Jackie, stay out of the sand traps and enjoy the fairways and greens.

Mr. Speaker, the President and the Democratic leadership here in the House and in the Senate are on the fast track to transitioning our country's Republic into a European social democracy. There were many reasons that the ancestors of the people of America fled from where they were to come to America. It was because of the oppressions of the freedoms by the governments under which they had resided.

We have made our share of mistakes and have had successes throughout history, but when America embraces freedom and liberty, we have the ability to inspire and to lead the world through many industries, and we have done so. In health care, we attract the greatest minds of the world to come to America's marketplace. We attract at-risk capital to press the bounds of science that improve the quality of life of our people and of millions around the world.

So, when we talk about health care reform, we want to preserve that which is right, and we want to work on that which is wrong. When my Democrat colleagues of the leadership talk about health care reform, it's about a government-run, socialized health system. Let's reject that and let's work together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3219, as amended, the Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009, which would amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to insurance and health care.

H.R. 3219, as amended combines several pieces of legislation including H.R. 2349, the Veterans' Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009, and H.R. 2270, the Benefits for Qualified World War II Veterans Act of 2009, both of which I introduced earlier this year.

H.R. 2349 gives eligible veterans the option of purchasing additional life insurance coverage under the Veterans Group Life Insurance Program. They would be able to purchase this coverage every five years in $25,000 increments up until age 60. This provision gives these veterans that choice to increase their life insurance as they get older and may see the need to purchase more as their family grows. The costs of such increases in coverage would be offset by premiums veterans pay, so there is no direct cost to the government.

Another provision included in H.R. 3219, as amended, is the substance of H.R. 2270, which provides a $1,000 monthly payment to all World War II civilian groups that were later given veteran status under the process set up by the G.I. Bill Improvement Act of 1977.

Earlier this year, the House created an inequitable situation when we singled out one of these civilian groups, merchant mariners, to receive this payment while excluding the other 28 groups who also served bravely in defense of our country. I am pleased that the bill before us corrects this situation.

One of these groups that are now eligible under this provision is American Volunteer Group also known as the Flying Tigers. These were civilian pilots and ground crew who fought against the Japanese before and after Pearl Harbor and had one of the most impressive combat records in the Pacific Theater.

During the subcommittee legislative hearing on H.R. 2270, members had the opportunity to meet and hear testimony of 90-year-old former Flying Tiger, Ed Stiles, Sr.

I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Stiles and his family, and it was an absolute pleasure to hear his stories about the brave pilots and ground crews of the Flying Tigers who saved countless American lives by tying up Japanese air forces in China before and after Pearl Harbor.

I want to thank my colleagues for including these two provisions in H.R. 3219, as amended. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1293, the Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009.

H.R. 1293 is a bill I introduced to increase the amount payable to a disabled veteran under the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Program.

Known as the HISA grant, this is a significant benefit that provides seriously disabled veterans the ability to make home alterations to receive in-home medical care.

Congress first authorized VA to establish the HISA program as part of outpatient care for home health services in 1973. The benefit is paid from the medical care appropriation and is available to both veterans with service-connected and non-service connected disabilities. A service-connected veteran can receive a HISA grant in addition to other home adaptations grants available through the Veterans Benefits Administration.

We have been engaged in the Global War on Terror for nearly eight years and are seeing an increasing number of servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan utilizing VA health care.

Last year, a joint Department of Defense, DOD, and VA Inspectors Generals review of the care transition process for injured OEF/OIF service members found that continuity of care was hindered by the inability of an injured active duty service member to obtain a HISA grant prior to discharge. Responding to this need, we enacted Public Law 110-289 to allow VA to provide such grants to eligible service members prior to their discharge from military service.

However, we did not raise the amount of the grant which is currently $4,100 for service-connected veterans and $1,200 for non-service connected veterans. In fact, the ceiling has not been raised since 1992.

H.R. 1293 would raise the maximum amount of a HISA grant to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for non-service connected veterans. The proposed increase reflects an additional 3 percent for each year since 1992 to account for inflation and the increased cost of making home improvements--a long overdue 66 percent increase.

It is important that we make sure that VA benefits, such as the HISA grant stay relevant and adequately meet the needs of today's veterans.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1293. It is a good bill that shares bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2770, as amended, the Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009.

I am pleased to join with Chairman Filner in introducing and supporting this legislation that would revise and improve the laws governing VA Nonprofit Research Corporations (NPCs).

These state chartered, private organizations are dedicated entirely to supporting approved research and education at affiliated VA medical centers. They rely solely on non appropriated funds to conduct their activities, but are subject to VA oversight and regulation. There are 86 NPCs located in forty-one states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

However, the law that authorized and governs the operation of these organizations has not been updated since 1988. Last year, the VA Office of Inspector General (IG) conducted an audit and found that there is a need to strengthen VA oversight and control over NPC funds and administration.

H.R. 2770, as amended would address concerns raised by the IG and update other provisions of the law to improve the operation of the non- profits to better meet the needs of the VA.

The primary enhancements would include allowing VA to establish Multi-Medical Center Research Corporations, which is a voluntary sharing of one NPC among two or more VA Medical Centers, to increase research capabilities at smaller facilities.

The bill would change requirements for Board membership to include at least two non-federal employee members that have business, legal, financial, medical, or scientific expertise that would benefit the NPC.

It would clarify the circumstances in which an NPC could accept, administer, retain, and spend funds received; enter into contracts and agreements; charge and retain fees for educational programs; and provide certain reimbursements to VA for legal services.

The bill would also raise the threshold for requirements to conduct independent audits and require that all NPCs establish a comprehensive conflict of interest policy.

It is timely that we enact this legislation to strengthen VA's authority to guide expenditures and increase accountability and oversight of NPCs. It is important to enhancing VA's ability to capitalize on private research funds to improve the quality of care for our nation's veterans. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2770, as amended.