Daniel Akaka

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I will cast my vote in favor of H.R. 4939, the fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriations bill. This bill takes the important step of supporting disaster relief efforts and helps fund our ongoing military and intelligence operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I support the intent of this bill, but I have some significant reservations regarding the growing cost of the war and how it is being funded. In supporting our troops, I believe we must do what is necessary to ensure that the men and women risking their lives for our country have everything they need to carry out their mission. I do not support the administration's policy of funding the war in Iraq through emergency supplemental bills. According to a Congressional Budget Office report, in 2005 the Department of Defense obligated $83.6 billion--nearly $7 billion per month--for the global war on terror, much of which was appropriated through emergency supplemental funding. This is a fiscally irresponsible approach that masks the true magnitude of the war's costs. Therefore, I voted in favor of an amendment offered by my colleagues, Senators Byrd and Carper, which expresses the sense of the Senate that any request for funds after fiscal year 2007 for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan should be included in the President's annual budget. I was encouraged that the amendment passed with a vote of 94 to 0. I urge the administration to heed the Senate's resolution and commit to making the costs of the Iraq war more transparent. I also believe that the administration must be held accountable for progress in the Iraq war. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and ranking minority member of the Readiness Subcommittee, I am committed to finding a way to bring our soldiers home as soon as possible. I do not believe that we should leave before the Iraqi people are equipped with the tools necessary to support a stable democratic society, but we must ensure that progress is being made. Toward that end, I support the plan outlined in the amendment submitted by my colleague Senator Carl Levin, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, which establishes clear reporting requirements regarding the political situation in Iraq. According to this plan, the President is required to submit a report to Congress every 30 days outlining Iraq's progress toward the formation of a national unity government. The plan also requires the administration to inform Iraqi political, religious and tribal leaders that meeting their own deadlines with regards to amending the Iraqi Constitution is a condition for the continued presence of a U.S. military force in Iraq. While the Senate did not consider Senator Levin's amendment due to germaneness, this is an important issue that Congress must address. Notwithstanding my concerns regarding the continued use of emergency supplementals to fund the conflict in Iraq, there are a number of provisions in this bill that I wholeheartedly support. In particular, I was pleased to see that we did not forget our Nation's veterans during consideration of the emergency supplemental. Our returning soldiers and sailors have earned the right to the best health care that this Nation can provide, and I believe we should strive to carry out this obligation to our servicemembers. With the backing of my Senate colleagues, I successfully passed an amendment to the emergency supplemental adding $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA. These funds will be specifically used to supplement direct health care, mental health care, and prosthetics services at VA. As the ranking member on the Veterans Affairs Committee, I am pleased that the Senate took this important step of supporting our Nation's veterans. Another appropriate use of the emergency supplemental was appropriations for disaster relief. Our Nation has been hit hard by many significant natural disasters that could not have been planned for in advance. I believe that we, as Government leaders, should continue to provide assistance to help those devastated by natural disasters including the severe flooding that deluged Hawaii earlier this year. On May 2, 2006, President George W. Bush declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii that Federal funds to help the people and communities recover. I am pleased that the Senate Appropriations Committee included $33.5 million in the emergency supplemental for disaster assistance in Kauai and Windward Oahu, and $6 million for sugarcane growers in the State whose crops were destroyed by the floods earlier this spring. In March, I introduced S. 2444, the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2006. This bill would amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to establish a program to provide grant assistance to States for the rehabilitation and repair of deficient dams. I also supported Senator Inouye's efforts to include an amendment to H.R. 3499 to provide $1.4 million to assess the security and safety of critical reservoirs and dams in Hawaii, including monitoring dam structures. I am extremely disappointed that this amendment did not pass because the failure of Kaloko Dam on Kauai led to the severe flooding and loss of life. I am hopeful that my colleagues will recognize the importance of addressing the dam problem for the sake of Hawaii and our Nation and that my bill will receive floor consideration. Senator Inouye also introduced a timely amendment that provides $1 million for environmental monitoring of waters in and around Hawaii. In March of this year, I had the opportunity to visit the hardest hit areas of our State and meet victims, emergency responders, and State officials. To date, the situation for many of our residents remains very grave. With hundreds of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed, critical infrastructure crippled, and many hours spent engaged in search and rescue activities, the resources of our State have been severely strained. I supported this amendment, and I am encouraged that this amendment passed. It is clear that Hawaii will not be able to fully recover without substantial Federal assistance. Mr. President, I wish to reiterate that a clear distinction needs to be made for true emergencies and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the floods in Hawaii, which could not have been anticipated. It is fiscally irresponsible for the current administration to continue to treat this war as an emergency in order to hide the true cost of the war and circumvent the normal budgeting and oversight process. If the current administration continues to refuse to make hard choices and insist on a policy of funding the war through emergency appropriations, succeeding generations of Americans will face even more difficult choices.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise proudly today to introduce legislation that would provide assistance to those who care for our Nation's veterans. These caregivers provide a great service to our country and play a vital role in providing non-institutional long-term health care for veterans. There is deep concern regarding the anticipated number of veterans that will need long-term care by the year 2010. In 2005, there were almost one million veterans age 85 and over, and by 2010, it is anticipated that the number of veterans in this age category will grow to 1.3 million. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be faced with a crisis related to the demand for care of this population, and we must help VA prepare for this situation. VA has been disturbingly inactive in instituting the long-term care provisions of the 1999 Millennium Health Care Act. The General Accounting Office has been the most critical, citing major inconsistencies across the VA system in the implementation of non- institutional care. During the Committee on Veterans' Affairs' oversight work in Hawaii, we found that the Kauai clinic lacked a home care specialist and the Maui clinic was arbitrarily limiting non- institutional care. Caregivers are crucial in bridging these gaps in non-institutional long-term care services. With more veterans returning from combat with severely debilitating injuries, young spouses and parents have been forced to take on an unexpected role as caregivers. Many have interrupted their own careers to dedicate time and attention to the care and rehabilitation of loved ones. These caregivers do not plan for this to happen and are not prepared mentally or financially for their new role. Therefore, we must protect, educate, and lend a helping hand to the caregivers who take on the responsibility and costly burden of caring for veterans, both young and old. This legislation serves to provide comprehensive assistance to these caregivers. By providing such services as respite care, caregivers can have time to run errands and attend to their own health concerns. They can rest easier knowing that there is someone there to care for their disabled veteran while they are out. Another service provided through this legislation is adult-day care for veterans. This serves a dual purpose in that it provides short-term supervision and also gives veterans a place to go for some camaraderie. The last years of a veteran's life can be difficult for both the veteran and for the caregiver. This legislation would also provide hospice services so that this period is one of peace and comfort. Other services that would support caregivers under this legislation include education, training, transportation services, readjustment services, rehabilitation services, home care services, and any other new and innovative modalities of non-institutional long-term care. I cannot try to quantify the invaluable service that caregivers provide. What can be done is to make funds available to carry out programs to assist them. The legislation authorizes $10 million to be allocated to individual medical facilities within VA, especially to those in rural areas without a long-term care facility, based upon the proposals submitted by the facilities. In efforts to evaluate the improvements made in caregiver assistance services, a report shall be submitted to Congress by the Secretary no later than a year after enactment of this bill. The report should include information on the allocation of funds to facilities and a description of the improvements made with the funds. Let us meet these caregivers halfway by giving them the assistance they need to care for the veterans that depend on them. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this effort. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my colleague, Senator Christopher Bond, to introduce the Dam Safety Act of 2006. This legislation is designed to help prevent such tragic failures as the collapse of the privately owned Ka Loko Dam in Kauai last March in which seven people died. The legislation complements legislation that I introduced with Senator Inouye, S. 2444, the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2006, which assists in securing and repairing publicly owned dams. Both of these bills are critical to preventing the type of devastating collapse which occurred on Kauai. This legislation is vitally important not only to my State but to every State. There are approximately 79,000 dams registered in the National Inventory of Dams. However, there are many more dams that are small and unregulated. This bill provides funding for State dam safety programs to enhance their oversight and support abilities. The Dam Safety Act of 2006 reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program, NDSP, which was first established as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 Public Law 104-303. In 2002, the NDSP was reauthorized for another 4 years by the enactment of the Dam Safety and Security Act of 2002 Public Law 107-310. It expires at the end of this fiscal year, so its reauthorization is imperative. The National Dam Safety Program delivers vital Federal resources to State governments to improve their dam safety programs by providing funds for training, technical assistance, research, and support. Federal incentive grants are awarded to States to enhance their dam safety programs. In addition, funds have been used to hire staff for inspections, pay for specialized training, and develop specialized mapping in the event that a dam failure necessitates evacuation. Of the approximately $12 million authorized for each fiscal year, $8 million is divided among the States to improve safety programs and $2 million is allocated for research to identify more effective techniques to assess, construct, and monitor dams. In addition, $700,000 is available for training assistance for State engineers, and $1 million is used for the National Inventory of Dams. The costs of failing to maintain dams properly are extremely high. There have been at least 29 dam failures in the United States during the past 2 years causing more than $200 million in property damages. The failure of the Silver Lake Dam in Michigan in 2003 caused more than $100 million in property damage. A December 2005 dam collapse in Missouri injured three children and destroyed several homes. People caught in the path of a dam collapse are often helpless to escape. Such was the tragic situation in Hawaii when, in March, the Ka Loko Dam, a 116-year earthen dam, on the island of Kauai suddenly collapsed during heavy rains, killing seven people. When a dam collapses, destruction is often swift and uncontrollable. In the case on Kauai, local, State, and Federal officials quickly responded to the tragedy, assisting citizens while engineers from both the State Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspected the over 50 dams on Kauai. Neighbors worked together to help neighbors, and our Governor quickly requested more funds, which the legislature approved, for cleanup and additional inspections. While most of the responsibility is at the State and local level, there is a role for the Federal Government in supplementing State resources and developing national guidelines for dam safety. The funds Hawaii receives under the program help the State's staff to acquire and maintain equipment and software to assess dam safety. It is a small amount but vitally important to my State and to every State. I urge my colleagues to join Senator Bond and me in supporting the reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program. I ask unanimous consent to insert in the Record at this point a letter from the Dam Safety Coalition endorsing this legislation.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my colleague, Senator Christopher Bond, to introduce the Dam Safety Act of 2006. This legislation is designed to help prevent such tragic failures as the collapse of the privately owned Ka Loko Dam in Kauai last March in which seven people died. The legislation complements legislation that I introduced with Senator Inouye, S. 2444, the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2006, which assists in securing and repairing publicly owned dams. Both of these bills are critical to preventing the type of devastating collapse which occurred on Kauai. This legislation is vitally important not only to my State but to every State. There are approximately 79,000 dams registered in the National Inventory of Dams. However, there are many more dams that are small and unregulated. This bill provides funding for State dam safety programs to enhance their oversight and support abilities. The Dam Safety Act of 2006 reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program, NDSP, which was first established as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 Public Law 104-303. In 2002, the NDSP was reauthorized for another 4 years by the enactment of the Dam Safety and Security Act of 2002 Public Law 107-310. It expires at the end of this fiscal year, so its reauthorization is imperative. The National Dam Safety Program delivers vital Federal resources to State governments to improve their dam safety programs by providing funds for training, technical assistance, research, and support. Federal incentive grants are awarded to States to enhance their dam safety programs. In addition, funds have been used to hire staff for inspections, pay for specialized training, and develop specialized mapping in the event that a dam failure necessitates evacuation. Of the approximately $12 million authorized for each fiscal year, $8 million is divided among the States to improve safety programs and $2 million is allocated for research to identify more effective techniques to assess, construct, and monitor dams. In addition, $700,000 is available for training assistance for State engineers, and $1 million is used for the National Inventory of Dams. The costs of failing to maintain dams properly are extremely high. There have been at least 29 dam failures in the United States during the past 2 years causing more than $200 million in property damages. The failure of the Silver Lake Dam in Michigan in 2003 caused more than $100 million in property damage. A December 2005 dam collapse in Missouri injured three children and destroyed several homes. People caught in the path of a dam collapse are often helpless to escape. Such was the tragic situation in Hawaii when, in March, the Ka Loko Dam, a 116-year earthen dam, on the island of Kauai suddenly collapsed during heavy rains, killing seven people. When a dam collapses, destruction is often swift and uncontrollable. In the case on Kauai, local, State, and Federal officials quickly responded to the tragedy, assisting citizens while engineers from both the State Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspected the over 50 dams on Kauai. Neighbors worked together to help neighbors, and our Governor quickly requested more funds, which the legislature approved, for cleanup and additional inspections. While most of the responsibility is at the State and local level, there is a role for the Federal Government in supplementing State resources and developing national guidelines for dam safety. The funds Hawaii receives under the program help the State's staff to acquire and maintain equipment and software to assess dam safety. It is a small amount but vitally important to my State and to every State. I urge my colleagues to join Senator Bond and me in supporting the reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program. I ask unanimous consent to insert in the Record at this point a letter from the Dam Safety Coalition endorsing this legislation.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I rise with my good friend and colleague, Senator Craig from Idaho, to introduce legislation to establish at least five Amputation and Prosthetic Rehabilitation Centers within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Through progressive and specialized expertise in the area of prosthetics and rehabilitation, the visible reminders of the sacrifices made by our wounded warriors will become less evident and hopefully less of a factor in their everyday lives. Specialty care for amputees has become an even more pressing concern because of the types of injuries our brave soldiers have sustained in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Many would agree that this is not the same kind of war that other generations of veterans have fought. The use of body armor and improvements in battlefield medicine have saved more lives, but in many cases have left our soldiers with traumatic injuries. Servicemembers in the current conflicts have suffered from twice as many amputations as those who fought in past wars. Unfortunately, the incidence of multiple amputations from bomb blasts is higher in this war. The VA health care system has only begun to see the men and women from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom who are in need of long-term rehabilitation. Indeed, these veterans are young and plan on being active for a long time. VA is well poised to take on this challenge. An ongoing study at the Providence VA hospital is looking at ``biohybrid'' limbs which are implanted into tissue and later become an integral part of the patient. We cannot, however, forget about the war our current veterans continue to fight everyday against time and their health. Veterans struggling with diseases such as diabetes are often faced with amputation. The establishment of the Amputation and Prosthetic Rehabilitation Centers will provide advanced care to those who have endured the loss of a limb, which will help them regain full function and a better quality of life. The centers will provide VA regional clinical facilities with cutting edge expertise in prosthetics, rehabilitation with the use of prosthetics, treatment, and coordination of care for a veteran with an amputation. By placing these centers in locations with the highest concentrations of veterans, those in need will truly benefit from these specialized services. VA has always been a leader in progressive treatment and care. These centers will maintain VA as a leader by providing the tools and staff necessary to do so. The legislation requires that the centers must have a well-equipped and appropriately certified laboratory facility necessary to provide the most state-of-the-art and complex prosthetic devices. With experienced prosthetists trained and certified in the area of new techniques, an accredited Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation service with trained staff in the most current prosthetic services, and a permanent modern gait laboratory located within each center, veterans are sure to receive the most advanced treatment and care. A critical part of this legislation is that these centers will serve as resources for smaller VA hospitals which may not have all of the expertise but will certainly have the patients. As Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I urge my colleagues to join Chairman Craig and myself in support of providing treatment to those in need so they can stand on their own.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in favor of the amendments offered by my colleague, the senior Senator from Hawaii, Dan Inouye, to the fiscal year 2007 supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 4939. I ask that I be included as a cosponsor of both amendments. I believe that we, as government leaders, should continue to provide whatever forms of assistance are necessary to help the men, women, and children left devastated by natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and severe flooding that recently marred the islands of Kauai and Oahu in my home State of Hawaii. Although the immediate crises have passed, the long process of recovery has just begun. Now, more than ever, we need to support the efforts of those engaged in the process of rebuilding their communities. I am pleased to see that the Senate Appropriations Committee has included $33.5 million in the emergency supplemental for disaster assistance in Kauai and Windward Oahu, and $6 million for sugarcane growers in Hawaii whose crops were destroyed by the floods earlier this spring. These funds will provide a great deal of assistance to the citizens of my home State as they work to repair the damage to their homes and businesses. However, as my colleague eloquently explained, we need to go further. His first amendment would provide $1.4 million to assess the security and safety of critical reservoirs and dams in Hawaii, including monitoring dam structures. This funding is crucial because the failure of Kaloko Dam on Kauai led to the severe flooding and loss of life. The other Inouye amendment would provide $1 million for environmental monitoring of waters in and around Hawaii. In March, I visited the hardest hit areas of our State and met with victims, emergency responders, and State officials. The situation for many of our residents is very grave. With hundreds of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed, critical infrastructure crippled, and days of search and rescue activities, the resources of our State have been severely strained. Hawaii needs Federal assistance to recover from the effects of the flooding, including restoring critical roadways, helping farmers to salvage crops, and inspecting and repairing faulty dams and flood control systems. It is clear that Hawaii will not be able to mitigate the damages in the near future and that long-term recovery efforts will require Federal assistance. As my friend indicated, President Bush yesterday declared a major disaster for Hawaii triggering the release of Federal funds to help the people and communities recover. I stand in strong support of Senator Inouye's amendments.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I continue to advocate for the ability of taxpayers to file their taxes directly through the Internal Revenue Service Web site without depending on commercial tax preparers. If a taxpayer has taken the time to fill out their taxes on their own, they should be provided with the opportunity to file electronically through the IRS Web site without exposing their personal financial information to a tax preparer or be subjected to solicitations for other services or tax products. A bill that I introduced with my friend from New Mexico, Senator Bingaman, S. 2550, the Free Internet Filing Act, requires that taxpayers be provided with the option to directly e-file via the IRS Web site without using commercial tax preparers. I will continue to work with my colleagues to enact this needed legislation. Electronic returns help taxpayers receive their refunds faster than mailing them in. This would also save the IRS resources and reduce possible errors that can occur when the mailed-in returns are transcribed. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an additional letter of support for S. 2550 from the National Consumer Law Center, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and Consumer Action be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of our Nation's veterans and military heroes to introduce the ``Heroes Healthcare Eligibility Act of 2006.'' This legislation would recognize the sacrifices and contributions of our Nation's military heroes by ensuring that our military heroes have full access to VA health care. Since January 2003, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has used his authority under current law to prohibit Priority 8 veterans from enrolling in the VA health care system. Priority 8 veterans are those with no service-connected disability and have an income of over $26,902. To date, more than 260,000 of these supposed ``middle-income'' veterans have been turned away from the VA health care system. I was dismayed to learn that the group of Priority 8 veterans may include thousands of war heroes, who were awarded medals for valor in combat but are ineligible for health care because of income limitations. Lou Green, a Korean war veteran and veterans advocate, brought a case to my attention where a multiple Silver Star award winner was denied access to care. This particular veteran had income just slightly above the means test limit but was told that his award ``meant nothing'' for getting VA health care. This bill would recognize those veterans who have been awarded the Silver Star Medal or higher for valor and give them access to VA health care on par with former POWs; service connected veterans rated 10 percent or 20 percent disabled and all those who have received a Purple Heart. From World War II to present, more than 134,000 servicemembers have been awarded either the Silver Star, Air Force Cross, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross or the Medal of Honor. I would tell my colleagues that there is precedent for establishing priority eligibility for a veteran's benefit as a result of being awarded a military decoration. As I mentioned before, today combat veterans in receipt of a Purple Heart are eligible for VA health care, as they fall into the third priority group. Also, current policy at Arlington National Cemetery gives eligibility for full-body burial to those who have been awarded the Silver Star or higher for valor or are in receipt of the Purple Heart. As much as I would like to reopen the doors to VA health care for all Priority 8 veterans, this legislation to recognize our Nation's military heroes is a step in the right direction. It is time our decorated military heroes receive the recognition they so richly deserve. I urge my colleagues to join me in making this needed change to VA's health eligibility for our military heroes a reality.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of our Nation's veterans and military heroes to introduce the ``Heroes Healthcare Eligibility Act of 2006.'' This legislation would recognize the sacrifices and contributions of our Nation's military heroes by ensuring that our military heroes have full access to VA health care. Since January 2003, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has used his authority under current law to prohibit Priority 8 veterans from enrolling in the VA health care system. Priority 8 veterans are those with no service-connected disability and have an income of over $26,902. To date, more than 260,000 of these supposed ``middle-income'' veterans have been turned away from the VA health care system. I was dismayed to learn that the group of Priority 8 veterans may include thousands of war heroes, who were awarded medals for valor in combat but are ineligible for health care because of income limitations. Lou Green, a Korean war veteran and veterans advocate, brought a case to my attention where a multiple Silver Star award winner was denied access to care. This particular veteran had income just slightly above the means test limit but was told that his award ``meant nothing'' for getting VA health care. This bill would recognize those veterans who have been awarded the Silver Star Medal or higher for valor and give them access to VA health care on par with former POWs; service connected veterans rated 10 percent or 20 percent disabled and all those who have received a Purple Heart. From World War II to present, more than 134,000 servicemembers have been awarded either the Silver Star, Air Force Cross, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross or the Medal of Honor. I would tell my colleagues that there is precedent for establishing priority eligibility for a veteran's benefit as a result of being awarded a military decoration. As I mentioned before, today combat veterans in receipt of a Purple Heart are eligible for VA health care, as they fall into the third priority group. Also, current policy at Arlington National Cemetery gives eligibility for full-body burial to those who have been awarded the Silver Star or higher for valor or are in receipt of the Purple Heart. As much as I would like to reopen the doors to VA health care for all Priority 8 veterans, this legislation to recognize our Nation's military heroes is a step in the right direction. It is time our decorated military heroes receive the recognition they so richly deserve. I urge my colleagues to join me in making this needed change to VA's health eligibility for our military heroes a reality.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, this week, we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week, a time when all Americans are asked to remember the Nation's public workers who serve their country and the world by delivering services essential to our daily lives. As the ranking member of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee, I wish to spotlight the dedication, commitment, and loyalty demonstrated every day by public servants. That is why I introduce annually--and the Senate passes--a resolution honoring employees at all levels of Government. In the aftermath of 9/11 and the anthrax attacks a month later, we gained a better appreciation of the critical work undertaken by public employees, such as firefighters, paramedics, nurses, and U.S. postal workers. I thank my colleagues for their quick action last week in passing my resolution, S. Res. 412, which I introduced with the support of the leadership of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Despite the need to support public workers, far too often we take for granted these men and women whose sense of duty and devotion to country guides the work they do daily for their fellow Americans. Although our lives are enriched by the work of Federal employees, most people are unfamiliar with the Federal Executive Boards, FEB, which were created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to better coordinate the activities of the Federal Government outside of Washington, DC. Decisions affecting the expenditure of billions of taxpayer dollars are made in the field which affect all Americans. Having FEBs--whose members are senior agency personnel--saves time, money, and effort while ensuring that these senior employees are more in touch with State and local governments, as well as their communities. I am especially proud of the Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board, HPFEB, which today celebrates its 50th Excellence in Federal Government Awards with a ceremony at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. I am also pleased to note that before an FEB was even established in Hawaii, forward thinkers had already begun to honor the best in Federal service through these awards. Today's program not only honors the 153 employees receiving awards but provides all agencies and military commands in Hawaii and the Pacific an opportunity to showcase their organizations through exhibits outside the hotel's ballroom. Honoring today's awardees are Federal agency heads, military commanders, State and local government officials, and members of the business community. According to the HPFEB, the Excellence in Federal Government Awards Program recognizes outstanding Federal employees for their efforts, leadership, and initiative. The program encourages innovation and excellence in government, reinforces pride in Federal service, and helps call public attention to the broad range of services provided by Federal employees. The HPFEB has over 90 members, senior heads of Federal agencies and military commands, who represent the over 70,000 civilian and military personnel in the Pacific region, including the Department of Defense, the Government's largest civilian employer in Hawaii. Like its 27 counterparts nationwide, the HPFEB communicates with and partners with the community, works to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, facilitates service delivery and coordinates emergency services. The Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board embraces its interagency coordinating role and is proud of its five primary accomplishments: creating and operating the Pacific Leadership Academy to ensure that agencies within Hawaii and the Pacific area are training today and tomorrow's cadre of Federal leaders; celebrating the work of Federal employees through its Excellence in Government Awards, which last year honored 126 employees; supporting the Combined Federal Campaign by raising over $6.1 million in 2005; working with Federal, State, and local governments to improve emergency planning by participating in disaster exercises, partnering with the State of Hawaii to purchase the $70,000 system ``Notifyer,'' and developing a simultaneous broadcast telephone message system that updates emergency information; and establishing councils and working groups. Hawaii's FEB is sponsored by the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Department of the Navy, and is headed by Ms. Gloria Uyehara, the Executive Director, who has over 30 years of career service, most recently as head of the Education and Development Office, promoting leadership development and succession planning at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. She is supported by Ms. Gerry A. Reese, who has been with the HPFEB for more than 30 years as the Executive Assistant. Ms. Uyehara points out that today's Excellence in Federal Government Awards provides a model of excellence for all Federal employees and promotes ideas and concepts to encourage the use of best practices. Those Federal and military personnel working with the HPFEB understand the need to reach out to their community and foster cooperation among all levels of Government. These men and women exemplify the spirit of public service. Together they typify today's Federal and military personnel who work tirelessly to make democracy work. At a time when the Federal Government faces strong competition with the public and private sector for skilled employees and the administration is pushing for greater outsourcing, it is imperative that we continue to support the Government's network of Federal executive boards, associations, and councils. It would be unwise to diminish the critical role that these entities play in identifying and instituting efficiencies and improving Government services within the communities they serve and to the Nation as a whole. Again, I send my warmest congratulations and aloha to the members of the Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board which provides the leadership, the enthusiasm, and the expertise to ensure that Government is more responsive, innovative, and effective.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill that would amend the Native American Languages Act, NALA, that was enacted into law on October 30, 1990, to promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American languages. Since 1990, awareness and appreciation of Native languages has grown. Continued action and investment in the preservation of Native languages is needed. I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues, Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Max Baucus, as we seek to improve the cultural and educational opportunities available to Native Americans throughout our Nation. Historians and linguists estimate that there were more than 300 distinct Native languages at the time of first European contact with North America. Today, there are approximately 155 Native languages that remain and 87 percent of those languages have been classified as deteriorating or nearing extinction. Native communities across the country are being significantly impacted as individuals fluent in a Native language are passing away. These speakers are not only important in perpetuating the language itself, but also serve as repositories of invaluable knowledge pertaining to customs and traditions, as well as resource use and management. The Native American Languages Act Amendments Act of 2006 would amend NALA to authorize the Secretary of Education to provide funds to establish Native American language nest and survival school programs. Nest and survival school programs are site-based education programs conducted through a Native American language. These programs have played an integral role in bringing together elders and youth to cultivate and perpetuate Native American languages. My bill would establish at least four demonstration programs in geographically diverse locations to provide assistance to nest and survival schools and participate in a national study on the linguistic, cultural, and academic effects of Native American language nest and survival schools. Demonstration programs would be authorized to establish endowments for furthering activities related to the study and preservation of Native American languages and to use funds to provide for the rental, lease, purchase, construction, maintenance, and repair of facilities. As Americans, it is our responsibility to perpetuate our Native languages that have shaped our collective identity and contributed to our history. For example, during World War II, the United States employed Native American code talkers who developed secret means of communication based on Native languages. The actions of the code talkers were critical to our winning the war and to saving numerous lives. My legislation would serve as another opportunity for our country to acknowledge and ensure that our future will be enhanced by the contributions of Native language and culture. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to enhance the cultural and educational opportunities for Native Americans and Native American language speaking individuals.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill that would amend the Native American Languages Act, NALA, that was enacted into law on October 30, 1990, to promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American languages. Since 1990, awareness and appreciation of Native languages has grown. Continued action and investment in the preservation of Native languages is needed. I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues, Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Max Baucus, as we seek to improve the cultural and educational opportunities available to Native Americans throughout our Nation. Historians and linguists estimate that there were more than 300 distinct Native languages at the time of first European contact with North America. Today, there are approximately 155 Native languages that remain and 87 percent of those languages have been classified as deteriorating or nearing extinction. Native communities across the country are being significantly impacted as individuals fluent in a Native language are passing away. These speakers are not only important in perpetuating the language itself, but also serve as repositories of invaluable knowledge pertaining to customs and traditions, as well as resource use and management. The Native American Languages Act Amendments Act of 2006 would amend NALA to authorize the Secretary of Education to provide funds to establish Native American language nest and survival school programs. Nest and survival school programs are site-based education programs conducted through a Native American language. These programs have played an integral role in bringing together elders and youth to cultivate and perpetuate Native American languages. My bill would establish at least four demonstration programs in geographically diverse locations to provide assistance to nest and survival schools and participate in a national study on the linguistic, cultural, and academic effects of Native American language nest and survival schools. Demonstration programs would be authorized to establish endowments for furthering activities related to the study and preservation of Native American languages and to use funds to provide for the rental, lease, purchase, construction, maintenance, and repair of facilities. As Americans, it is our responsibility to perpetuate our Native languages that have shaped our collective identity and contributed to our history. For example, during World War II, the United States employed Native American code talkers who developed secret means of communication based on Native languages. The actions of the code talkers were critical to our winning the war and to saving numerous lives. My legislation would serve as another opportunity for our country to acknowledge and ensure that our future will be enhanced by the contributions of Native language and culture. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to enhance the cultural and educational opportunities for Native Americans and Native American language speaking individuals.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I be yielded 10 minutes.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today with the Senator from Washington, Senator Murray, and the Senator from Massachusetts, Senator Kerry, to offer an amendment to address the costs of providing health care to veterans. I am proud that 16 of our colleagues have joined us in this effort. Last year, we all recognized the need to provide supplemental funds to VA. We did this to allow VA to absorb an influx of new patients from Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. It is time to act once again. This amendment we offer today allows VA to provide care for returning troops without displacing those veterans currently using the system. It provides VA with more tools to deal with those mental health issues faced by returning veterans. The amount of this amendment, $430 million, is largely directed toward mental health needs, coupled with a modest level of funding to eradicate waiting lists and existing shortfalls. Eighty million dollars is directed to Vet Centers, readjustment counseling, and outreach. For returning veterans who have suffered psychological wounds, the stigma surrounding these types of injuries creates a barrier that oftentimes prevents them from seeking the care they need. Vet Centers provide a means to overcome this barrier because of the location in the community and because veteran staff members can relate to the experiences of veterans seeking services. We are receiving information that our Vet Centers maintenance funding is being depleted. We learned also that resources for equipment that is needed by the centers cannot be bought because funds are not available. In the year 2005, Vet Centers cared for 36,000 veterans. So far this year, Vet Centers have seen more than 70,000 such veterans. This chart shows in 2003 there were 1,936 veterans; in 2004 there were 9,611 veterans; in the year 2005, 36,717. It is projected to be 70,547. Therefore, the need for assistance is there. When we close the books on 2006, Vet Centers will have ended up seeing nearly 140,000. That is a projection. Yet the budget for the program has remained virtually stagnant. Another component of our amendment aggressively targets the more debilitating mental health issues of servicemembers. The experts predict as many as 30 percent of those returning servicemembers may need psychiatric care. Yet we are told that the system is nowhere near ready to handle this type of workload. Steady budget cuts over the years have diminished VA mental health care capacity. GAO found VA has lagged in the implementation of recommendations made by its own advisory committee on PTSD to improve treatment of veterans who suffer from this very serious mental illness. The GAO has questioned whether VA can keep pace with the demand for mental health treatment from veterans of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. In order to provide the VA health care system for these needs, we believe $168 million should be sent to VA. The VA developed its own comprehensive plan to reach all veterans in clinics or in VA hospitals. This is the administration's plan, but we need to find a way to fund it. In addition to mental health needs, our amendment addresses the existing shortfalls in the system. We know right now waiting lists have begun to creep up. VA hospitals are running deficits. Yes, we are back here again. Let me share some specifics. In Phoenix, the supplemental funds provided last year went almost entirely to help with the backlog of patients and nary a dime was used for equipment purchases or maintenance which was delayed previously. In Network 22, they are still relying on management efficiencies to balance the budget. These same efficiencies were decried by the GAO as being fictitious. In Texas, the VA is again using maintenance and equipment funds to cover its current deficit. Health care provider positions also remain open all across the country, resulting in shortages of doctors, nurses, and medical technicians, to name a few. We know we can do better. I close by taking my colleagues back a year when we offered a similar amendment to the last war supplemental. Armed with evidence that VA facilities were operating in the red, we came before our colleagues and asked that VA be given the funds necessary to care for returning servicemembers. We had VA's own documentation which showed that higher numbers of patients were seeking care than were expected. The Bush administration, at the same time, assured all Members that sufficient funds were available. Our amendment was rejected. Many were led to believe VA could handle the unexpected workload. It took 4 months for the VA to come clean and admit help was needed from Congress. With swift bipartisan action, the VA finally ended up with more funding. Let's be upfront about the fact that the costs of the war we are fighting today will continue to add up long after the final shot is fired, mainly in the form of veterans' health care and veterans' benefits. I urge my colleagues to join in this effort to see that servicemembers are provided the care they are currently earning. I yield to the Senator from Washington.

Mr. AKAKA. I thank the Senator from Mississippi for permitting me to discuss my amendment. I send my amendment to the desk.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment, as amended.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Durbin be added as a cosponsor to my amendment.

Mr. AKAKA. I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I want the Senator from Texas to know that I do appreciate the changes made by her. I believe it is an approach with which we can all live. A letter was circulated last year to Senators in which the VA assured Senators ``that the VA does not need emergency supplemental funds in FY 2005 to continue to provide the timely quality service that is always our goal. But certainly for the remainder of this year, I do not foresee any challenges that are not solvable within our own management decision capability.'' We know that in the end, however, emergency funds were needed. With this modification in my amendment, I expect the President to come forward expeditiously and will not tolerate forestalling and suppression of the facts. Our men and women are depending on us. We will be watching. I express my appreciation for the second-degree amendment. Following the adoption of that amendment, I will ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment, as amended by the Senator from Texas.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce an important piece of legislation for our Native American veterans. The Native American Veterans Cemetery Act of 2006 would provide tribal organizations eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs grants to establish veterans cemeteries on trust lands. Currently, VA does not have the authority to make such grants. Native American veterans have a long and proud history of military service on behalf of this Nation. Per capita, Native Americans have the highest percentage of people serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Native Americans have honorably served in every war fought by the United States. After completion of their service, many Native American veterans return to their communities on trust lands. Passage of this legislation would provide them the option of veterans cemetery burial in a location convenient for their families and loved ones. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have always fought for the rights of our indigenous peoples. The Native American Veterans Cemetery Act of2006 is another step forward in helping native peoples. The Department of Veterans Affairs supports enactment of this legislation and estimates it to be budget neutral. It is my hope that the Senate will expeditiously proceed to the consideration of this important bill. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce an important piece of legislation for our Native American veterans. The Native American Veterans Cemetery Act of 2006 would provide tribal organizations eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs grants to establish veterans cemeteries on trust lands. Currently, VA does not have the authority to make such grants. Native American veterans have a long and proud history of military service on behalf of this Nation. Per capita, Native Americans have the highest percentage of people serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Native Americans have honorably served in every war fought by the United States. After completion of their service, many Native American veterans return to their communities on trust lands. Passage of this legislation would provide them the option of veterans cemetery burial in a location convenient for their families and loved ones. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have always fought for the rights of our indigenous peoples. The Native American Veterans Cemetery Act of2006 is another step forward in helping native peoples. The Department of Veterans Affairs supports enactment of this legislation and estimates it to be budget neutral. It is my hope that the Senate will expeditiously proceed to the consideration of this important bill. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President. As the tax filing deadline approaches, I am delighted to introduce the Free Internet Filing Act. The bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide universal access to individual taxpayers filing their tax returns directly through the IRS Web site. I thank Senator Bingaman for cosponsoring this bill and working with me on so many issues that are important to taxpayers. It is frustrating that individual taxpayers completing their own returns are not able to file directly with the IRS. Taxpayers are dependent on commercial preparers to electronically file their taxes. If a taxpayer takes the time necessary to prepare their returns by themselves, they must be provided with the option of electronically filing directly with the IRS. My legislation would make this direct filing possible. The current system that provides a select group of taxpayers with the ability to file electronically for free using third party intermediaries, called the Free File Alliance, is a failure. In testimony before the Finance Committee yesterday, The National Taxpayer Advocate, Ms. Nina Olson, testified that ``As currently structured, Free File amounts to a Wild, Wild West of differing eligibility requirements, differing capabilities, differing availability of and fees for add-on products, and many sites that are difficult to use.'' Ms. Olson also stated that the ``IRS should place a basic, fill-in template on its website to allow any taxpayer who wants to self-prepare his or her return to do so and file directly with the IRS for free.'' I completely agree. The current Free File Alliance agreement leaves out too many taxpayers. Taxpayers that make more than $50,000 are not eligible. In addition, tax preparation companies try to sell additional products and services, such as refund anticipation loans, to consumers that utilize their free file services that are accessed via the IRS Web site. Taxpayers should not be forced to access online filing through companies that peddle services and products to them. Taxpayers are directed to these companies via the IRS Web site. This should not happen. While paying their taxes and fulfilling their obligations, taxpayers should be allowed to file directly without being subjected to sales pitches or ads. Taxpayers should not have the additional worry associated with sharing their private financial information with a tax preparation company. In the current environment where there have been so many electronic breeches of financial information, taxpayers should not be forced to hand over their private information if they want to electronically file their return with the IRS. Taxpayers should not lose out on the benefits of electronic filing simply because they are worried about sending their data to third parties. My legislation will help increase the number of electronically filed returns. As Ms. Olson pointed out, nearly 45 million returns prepared using software are mailed in rather than electronically filed. With universal access to free e-file, this number could be substantially reduced. Electronic returns help taxpayers receive their refunds faster than mailing them in. This would also save the IRS resources and reduce possible errors that can occur when the mailed in returns are transcribed. I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for all of the tremendous work that Ms. Olson has done in an attempt to improve the lives of taxpayers. It is a pleasure to work with Ms. Olson and her staff both in Washington and Hawaii. I look forward to continuing to work with the National Taxpayer Advocate, other Treasury officials, and my colleagues to expand access to Internet filing. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of the bill be printed in the Record. I also ask unanimous consent that a letter of support from the Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President. As the tax filing deadline approaches, I am delighted to introduce the Free Internet Filing Act. The bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide universal access to individual taxpayers filing their tax returns directly through the IRS Web site. I thank Senator Bingaman for cosponsoring this bill and working with me on so many issues that are important to taxpayers. It is frustrating that individual taxpayers completing their own returns are not able to file directly with the IRS. Taxpayers are dependent on commercial preparers to electronically file their taxes. If a taxpayer takes the time necessary to prepare their returns by themselves, they must be provided with the option of electronically filing directly with the IRS. My legislation would make this direct filing possible. The current system that provides a select group of taxpayers with the ability to file electronically for free using third party intermediaries, called the Free File Alliance, is a failure. In testimony before the Finance Committee yesterday, The National Taxpayer Advocate, Ms. Nina Olson, testified that ``As currently structured, Free File amounts to a Wild, Wild West of differing eligibility requirements, differing capabilities, differing availability of and fees for add-on products, and many sites that are difficult to use.'' Ms. Olson also stated that the ``IRS should place a basic, fill-in template on its website to allow any taxpayer who wants to self-prepare his or her return to do so and file directly with the IRS for free.'' I completely agree. The current Free File Alliance agreement leaves out too many taxpayers. Taxpayers that make more than $50,000 are not eligible. In addition, tax preparation companies try to sell additional products and services, such as refund anticipation loans, to consumers that utilize their free file services that are accessed via the IRS Web site. Taxpayers should not be forced to access online filing through companies that peddle services and products to them. Taxpayers are directed to these companies via the IRS Web site. This should not happen. While paying their taxes and fulfilling their obligations, taxpayers should be allowed to file directly without being subjected to sales pitches or ads. Taxpayers should not have the additional worry associated with sharing their private financial information with a tax preparation company. In the current environment where there have been so many electronic breeches of financial information, taxpayers should not be forced to hand over their private information if they want to electronically file their return with the IRS. Taxpayers should not lose out on the benefits of electronic filing simply because they are worried about sending their data to third parties. My legislation will help increase the number of electronically filed returns. As Ms. Olson pointed out, nearly 45 million returns prepared using software are mailed in rather than electronically filed. With universal access to free e-file, this number could be substantially reduced. Electronic returns help taxpayers receive their refunds faster than mailing them in. This would also save the IRS resources and reduce possible errors that can occur when the mailed in returns are transcribed. I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for all of the tremendous work that Ms. Olson has done in an attempt to improve the lives of taxpayers. It is a pleasure to work with Ms. Olson and her staff both in Washington and Hawaii. I look forward to continuing to work with the National Taxpayer Advocate, other Treasury officials, and my colleagues to expand access to Internet filing. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of the bill be printed in the Record. I also ask unanimous consent that a letter of support from the Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise proudly today on behalf of our Nation's veterans and returning servicemembers to introduce the Healing the Invisible Wounds Act of 2006. This legislation will enhance the counseling and readjustment services provided by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). And it will protect the rights of veterans to receive PTSD compensation--now or in the future. Many of the men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from some of the most severe physical injuries. However, even more of these brave servicemembers have invisible wounds--difficulties with adjusting to not being on the battlefield or dealing with long- lasting visions and experiences that they encountered. My bill is intended to ensure that these men and women receive the readjustment counseling and mental health services necessary to transition into what we hope to be a full and productive life after combat. This issue is especially relevant following the release of a mental health care study conducted by the Army Institute of Research which revealed that as many as 35 percent of Iraq war veterans received mental health care services in the year after their return home. The study concluded that the high rate of using of mental health care services among Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans after deployment highlights challenges in ensuring that there be adequate resources to meet the mental health needs of returning veterans. As we all know, the transition period for these soldiers is extremely critical. So critical that it can, in some cases, mean the difference between short- term readjustment issues and severely chronic psychological conditions. This bill supports and encourages greater cooperation between VA and the Department of Defense, DoD, through the expansion of innovative Reunion and Re-entry activities carried out by Vet Center staff. These activities provide members of the National Guard and Reserves with counseling services during the transition from their deployment overseas to civilian life. Demobilization often occurs so rapidly for these returning servicemembers that they sometimes do not receive or are overwhelmed by the benefits information they need. It is understandable that our servicemembers are much more focused on being reunited with their loved ones than caring about what benefits they are eligible to receive. My bill provides a comprehensive approach by providing group session counseling, a one-hour private counseling session, a presentation to family members about counseling-related matters, and other services that are deemed appropriate by the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Defense. My bill ensures that these services are provided no later than 14 days upon return and that servicemembers be retained on active duty until they receive these crucial counseling services. In order to provide feedback and reflection about how to better serve veterans in this capacity, my bill requires a report from VA. The report would detail the costs associated with the provision of counseling services, an assessment of the efficacy of the services provided to meet the readjustment needs of veterans, and a survey-based assessment regarding the satisfaction of veterans receiving these services, that would include the manner in which these services are provided. Servicemembers have paid a great price in defending freedom. Access to treatment and counseling to heal invisible wounds must be considered a continuing cost of war. In that spirit, this legislation would authorize $180 million for the provision of readjustment counseling services. Colleagues, if there's one lesson we've learned thus far, it is that the earlier we provide these services, the better chance we have of preventing more serious mental health conditions. We need to invest in our future now. If we don't provide these services, we will be paying a much, much higher price in the future. The safe counseling havens of VA include Vet Centers, which are great conduits for the delivery of these types of transition activities. All Vet Centers are staffed by veterans who can relate to the experiences that these OIF/OEF veterans commonly share. In 2005, Vet Centers cared for more than 44,900 veterans of the Global War on Terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, Vet Centers provided bereavement counseling to more than 800 surviving family members of over 525 servicemembers who were killed while on active duty serving their country. Despite increases in the number of veterans coming to Vet Centers for care, the budget for the program has remained relatively stagnant. My bill would also address PTSD benefits for veterans. Instead of being proactive and allocating resources to address these challenges while at the same time caring for older veterans, a fear of rising costs prompted a reactionary response from many in Washington. Some policy makers believe that reducing veterans' compensation for PTSD by reexamining 72,000 previously awarded claims might be a good way to save money. This is a bad idea. Many times, VA compensation is the only source of income for severely disabled veterans and their families. I am thankful that VA set aside its plan to move forward with the PTSD Review late last year. However, there are ongoing efforts to re-evaluate how PTSD is compensated. The Institute of Medicine and Disability Benefits Commission are currently reviewing veterans' disability compensation. This bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress 6 months prior to modifying how PTSD is compensated under the disability compensation rating system. Veterans will no longer have to worry that the administration will cut disability compensation in order to save money. Through budget shortfalls and constraints, we must remain steadfast in ensuring that our servicemembers and their families do not suffer in silence from the invisible wounds that they receive in the name of freedom. Many of us fail to give invisible wounds the attention they require. I urge my colleagues to join me in taking another step towards healing our veterans by enacting this important measure. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of the bill be printed in the Record.