Steve Buyer

Mr. BUYER

Mr. BUYER. First of all, I'd like to applaud Buck McKeon and Ike Skelton for their efforts, along with Mr. Levin, to permit this bill to be considered, but we haven't gone far enough. Now, it's kind of what happens when we rush or go too fast around here. We get sloppy in our drafting. Now, in the bill that was passed here in the House, there were general authority provisions under the Secretaries of DOD and VA to ensure that those health systems would be protected--the authorities, their general provision authorities to the Secretaries would be protected. That language was not in the Senate bill. The Senate bill, which is now coming over here, interestingly enough, to--which is about to be deemed. Pretty interesting. I don't know if you know about the word ``deem.'' It comes from the old English origin to ``dom,'' and to ``dom'' was from judges. It means to make judgment. In the 17th century, judges actually then began to make rapid judgments, and they called them ``deemers.'' The origin of to dom-- there are two words: to deem and to doom. Pretty fascinating. So, right now, the language that was going to be deemed, the bill under consideration, will, in fact, cover the TRICARE, because right now it covers just TRICARE for Life. There's about $30 billion a year for TRICARE for those who are active duty, or guardsmen, or reservists who are brought to active duty to include their dependents. And with this $30 billion price tag, that's a lot of money. Over 10 years, that's around $300 billion. I don't know how we can exclude them, but we're going to bring them in. What I'm about to ask of Mr. Levin is, we also have this commitment, this commitment from the leadership, from the Speaker, from the leaders of the dominant committees of Ed and Labor, and Ways and Means, the Appropriations, and Energy and Commerce to protect the veterans programs. Now in that language that's coming from the Senate to here for which we're not going to get to vote on nor amend, it says that we will take care of the chapter 17 veterans programs. Veterans programs. But this chapter 17, there are other programs to survivors and dependents which would not be covered. So their programs which presently exist would not be under the minimum essential. Who are they? That would be the widows, the survivors, and the orphaned children, to include, for example, an agent orange Vietnam veteran whose child or adult dependent has spina bifida would not be covered. Parliamentary Inquiries

Mr. BUYER. I have a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. BUYER. My parliamentary inquiry would be this: The bill that is under suspension was dropped last night. We had to immediately respond to all of this, and I have dropped a bill just in the last hour. I apologize to my Democrat friends. I know you're just getting a chance to look at this. My parliamentary inquiry is, how would I be able to ask for an immediate consideration of this bill under a suspension?

Mr. BUYER. That's correct. Yes, as a separate measure. How can I call this bill to an immediate consideration?

Mr. BUYER. At the conclusion of this bill, could I ask for unanimous consent for immediate consideration of this bill to protect the survivors and orphans of our veterans?

Mr. BUYER. Further parliamentary inquiry. Does that mean that at the conclusion of this vote that the Chair would not recognize me for a unanimous consent request?

Mr. BUYER. So the U.C. would not be in order.

Mr. BUYER. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. BUYER. Reclaiming my time on the parliamentary inquiry, would it be made in order under a unanimous consent request on a suspension that the gentleman could amend? In other words, could I offer a unanimous consent request to amend to include the general authority language that is very similar to which the House had already passed previously under the health bill?

Mr. BUYER. So the gentleman--I accept your good faith. You could withdraw this bill. We are moving quickly, and you're correct that it is highly technical. We only got to see this bill a few days ago. So Mr. Skelton and Mr. McKeon, all of their staffs didn't get to fully cover it. It's immediately dropped at midnight. We immediately bring it to the floor. We then have to react. Further parliamentary inquiry. As gentlemen, why don't we pause under the rules? We can withdraw the suspension. We can work, and then the gentleman can bring it back, in good faith. I would ask of the gentleman under the comity of the House----

Mr. BUYER. All right. I would ask of the gentleman, would the gentleman consider to withdraw the suspension to allow us to include the general authority provisions and correct the errors in the bill?

Mr. BUYER. All right. I'm going to reclaim my time. The gentleman's position is that you have chosen not to withdraw the bill to correct the errors, but you want to proceed.

Mr. BUYER. Let me reclaim my time, because we have a really large distinction here. Because the bill that is about to be deemed--we don't even have the right to vote on it. See, this is what's blowing my mind, Mr. Levin. Those of us who have actually worn the uniform, we don't fight for any bounty of our own. We fight for liberty, we fight for freedom, the right to speak, the right to vote. And then we're going to be denied the right to vote on a Senate bill, and nor do we have the opportunity to amend? And to say that there are not errors when we move this fast, we don't even allow the deliberative process to be used. I'm pleading with you, Mr. Levin. I'm pleading with you. The bill that's before us only covers TRICARE for life. I know this. Announcement by the Speaker pro tempore

Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I apologize. Mr. Levin, I apologize. I drafted TRICARE for Life. I understand this program. This bill only covers TRICARE for Life. So individuals who are enrolled in TRICARE-- it's not considered a minimum essential health program. Now I know you didn't mean to do that. So let's get that corrected. That's why you're going to do this bill. So then why don't we absolutely make sure we correct chapter 17 to then protect survivors and dependents? It's an error. I'm not going to stand here and say you intentionally meant to leave out widows and orphans. I don't believe that. But if you're going to correct it on TRICARE, let's take care of the veterans too. I would just plead for the gentleman to stop and pause while we're in consideration here. Let's amend this, and let's do it right. That's my plea. I will also let you know that we do things substantively. We also do things politically. Ha. There's a response. Letters are coming in, and emails are coming in right now from all the VSOs, and the Veterans Service Organizations are pretty upset. Pretty upset. Whenever we move fast, we're sloppy, and people get hurt in the process. This is not one of our finest hours. Announcement by the Speaker pro tempore

Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, in consultation with the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, a gentleman that I respect, I think the best approach is we will vote on your bill and ask the minority leader, and approach the majority leader and the Speaker, and you can do your due diligence on the policy aspects to make sure that things can get corrected and then maybe we can call for immediate consideration of the Buyer-McKeon bill. I think that is a good approach. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. BUYER

Mr. BUYER. I would like to thank both parties for recognizing the uncommon virtue and valor. It didn't occur just at Iwo Jima. It occurred in many battlefields and lonely places all over the world. These are military values and virtues which are passed from one generation to the next. They are memorialized, and we've done that here in the Nation's Capital in Arlington by that extraordinary photo that was then transformed into that statue. The art of man is able to construct monuments and awards that are far more significant than the narrow span of our own existence. It's the silent lapse of time that displays how frail and how fallible we are as a people. So it truly is what we do with the time that we have that matters most. So those of us with whom we've had the privilege to wear the uniform and fight our Nation's wars and to serve on foreign soil, I can tell you having done that, that it is an extraordinary feeling. Now for the men and women, the nurses and the men who were in the dark sands of Iwo Jima, what an extraordinary campaign, and we have done everything we can to fulfill their ideal. At times, we fall short. We fall short as a people when we don't fulfill the ideal of their sacrifice; that is, the preservation of freedom and the preservation of individual liberty. And we have to be careful here in the institution of Congress if we don't respect each other with regard to our opinions, with regard to the process, because liberty also in the democratic process is pretty important. So we have this debate on the health bill. We shouldn't try to scheme. We should be open. This should be the most open and deliberative body in the world so that Lady Liberty that sits on top of the dome can truly shine as that beacon of liberty so that the sacrifices of those marines and the sailors and others at Iwo Jima can live forever. The men and women who wear the uniform, they fight for no bounty of their own, and they leave freedom in their footsteps. They are truly extraordinary people. They also go to a land where they've never been, and they fight for a people that they've never met because they fight for extraordinary ideals. So those sacrifices that occurred on Iwo Jima have been passed on to other generations, those of whom fought in Korea or in Vietnam, in the sands of the first gulf war or even the second gulf war and Afghanistan. So those of us who inherit the freedoms and those ideals, we are merely trustees for life, and our duty is to concentrate our lives to the greater good, beset by recurrent hopes for a more peaceful and prosperous Union. To do otherwise would be selfish as a people, and it would be wrong to turn to the next generation and say that we did not improve upon it, and we would then not be able to uphold the men, like at Iwo Jima, who did so much for so many.

Mr. BUYER

Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I am here to honor a fellow Hoosier, Lieutenant General James F. Record, who passed away on December 22, 2009. He is being interred today at his final resting place, a short distance from here, at Arlington National Cemetery. Born and raised in Indiana, General Record's distinguished career and service to our nation makes me especially proud to recognize the accomplishments of this Hoosier patriot. General Record graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette in 1961 with a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science. Shortly after graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force through Purdue's Reserve Officer Training Corps Program. After graduating from pilot training, General Record served as an instructor pilot at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. In 1967, he was deployed to combat in Vietnam where he served meritoriously for two years. Following his tour in Vietnam, he became commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing stationed in South Korea, the 58th Tactical Training Wing, and the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. In 1985, he was promoted to Brigadier General and took command of the 833rd Air Division. Following his command tour with the 833rd, he served as deputy commander of the Joint Task Force Middle East in the Persian Gulf. General Record also served as the chief of staff for the United Nations Command and the Republic of Korea/United States Combined Forces Command in Seoul, South Korea. While serving as vice commander of the 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces, he took command of the Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. In 1995, he was named commander of the 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces and promoted to Lieutenant General. General Record retired from the Air Force in 1997. Throughout his career, General Record accumulated over 6,000 flight hours and received numerous awards and decorations. Among his many medals for meritorious service, General Record received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air medal with 27 oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with six service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. While General Record's passing brings great sadness to our beloved country, his family, and his friends, we as Americans should be thankful that people like him dedicate their lives to the cause of liberty and make countless sacrifices so that we may enjoy the blessings of freedom. Today, I salute this honorable and distinguished warrior, a role model for Hoosiers and all Americans, as the nation bids him farewell.

Mr. BUYER

Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2847 the, ``Jobs for Main Street Act of 2009.'' Madam Speaker, once again members are being asked to vote on a 100- page bill, which was posted in the dead of night in the name of creating jobs that unfortunately will probably never materialize. What it will do is needlessly expand the size of the Federal Government. Madam Speaker, this is not the type of open and transparent process that the American people want or deserve. I am especially concerned that this bill spends millions of taxpayer dollars on innumerable pork barrel programs and pet projects, but it does not spend a dime to help create jobs for veterans. Recent unemployment numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that in the month of November there were over one million unemployed veterans, and that is unacceptable. The unemployment rate among our newest veterans, ages 18-24, remains extremely high at 20 percent. Equally disturbing is that 700,000 of the one million unemployed veterans are between the ages of 35 and 64, the years normally characterized by both highest earning power and highest financial need for important items such as paying mortgages and tuitions. Madam Speaker, it is because of these alarming statistics that earlier this month I was joined by many members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs in introducing H.R. 4220 the Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009. H.R. 4220 would help veterans find employment by providing funding and incentives for them to pursue employment training and education. The bill would also expand opportunities within the Federal Government for veteran-owned and service disabled veteran-owned small businesses. It was my hope that any ``jobs package'' would have included provisions such as those from H.R. 4220 to help those who have defended freedom, and it is unfortunate that the heavy handed tactics being used today have effectively prevented anyone from offering an amendment to include these provisions. Madam Speaker, I believe that veterans could serve as an important catalyst to economic recovery. Veterans are dedicated employees and engaged entrepreneurs, and this would expand job and entrepreneurial opportunities for these selfless individuals. It is my hope that early in the next session we can consider H.R. 4220 and examine other ways to improve employment opportunities for our veterans.

Mr. BUYER

Mr. BUYER. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4173 because it does not exempt the VA's very successful Loan Guaranty program from regulation under the provisions of this bill. The saying, ``if it ain't broke, don't fix it,'' applies. The VA guaranteed loans are not experiencing the high rates of delinquency and foreclosure like those backed by FHA. VA, to its credit, recognized the risks inherent in easing underwriting standards and stayed out of the subprime market. According to the September 30, 2009 National Delinquency Survey conducted by Mortgage Bankers Association, VA-backed home mortgages are experiencing significantly lower delinquency and foreclosure rates than any other government-backed programs. For example, as of September 30, the delinquency rate for all subprime mortgages was over 28 percent. FHA-backed loans show about a 14.4 percent delinquency rate while only about 8.1 percent of VA loans were delinquent. More ominously, 24.7 percent of subprime loans were in foreclosure (VA quite wisely does not guarantee subprime loans), and 3.3 percent of FHA loans had reached the foreclosure stage but only about 2.3 percent of VA loans were being foreclosed. These differences due to VA's stewardship and the Veterans Affairs Committee's oversight amount to tens of millions of dollars in savings to the taxpayers. Madam Chair, the provisions of H.R. 4173 would clearly apply to the VA's Loan Guaranty program. For example, in defining the scope and functions covered by the bill, section 4002 excludes only the ``Secretary of the Treasury and any agency or bureau under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.'' That means VA loan guaranty programs are subject to the provisions of the bill. Further in the definitions of ``Financial Activity'', it includes extending credit. VA has a small direct loan program used to sell their foreclosed properties. The bill's definitions also cover collecting consumer data. VA does that. VA also sells mortgage-based securities on the secondary market. Such activities are covered in the definitions section. The definitions also cover VA's contracts for portfolio servicing, including sales and maintenance of its foreclosed properties. Finally, VA-guaranteed loans offered by lenders would be subject to the jurisdiction of the CPRA rules and regulations. There are a couple of reasons why VA's loan guaranty program is outperforming the non-VA sector. First, the House Veterans Affairs Committee has oversight of the program and works hard to ensure the program is conducted in a manner that does not stray into products like subprime loans. Second, VA did not reduce its underwriting standards, and the combination of its higher standards along with servicing programs to assist veterans experiencing difficulty, has allowed VA to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars. My understanding of this mammoth 1,300 page bill is that the new bureaucracies and czars and whatever else is hidden in the bill will have the ability to affect how the VA loan guaranty programs are offered. Additionally, the broad language in the bill which allows the CFPA the discretion to define its own powers is at best short-sighted and at worst Orwellian. I am reminded that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Moreover, by placing additional tax burdens on financial institutions, many of which invest in mortgage securities offered on the secondary market, mortgage rates will go up. That is exactly what the VA's Loan Guaranty program, or the housing market at large, does not need because the secondary market is a major source of new lending resources as well as a $200 million dollar revenue stream to the Treasury. Madam Chair, I didn't think it was possible to concoct a bill that was even more opaque and unintelligible than the majority's healthcare bill. Well, I was wrong. The majority has succeeded in grand fashion to foist yet another financial disaster in-the-making on the American public, one designed not to ensure stability in the markets, but to make financial markets subject to political intrusion and manipulation. We have seen what political pressure to expand access to credit to those whose incomes would not normally have qualified them for a mortgage did to the housing market. Let's not make this same mistake with veterans. In summary, the VA loan guaranty program has been well- managed and does not need the regulation and supervision under H.R. 4173 would allow. I urge all of my colleagues to oppose H.R. 4173 and I yield back.

Mr. BUYER

Mr. BUYER. 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.

Mr. BUYER

Mr. BUYER. 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. BUYER

Mr. BUYER. 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

Mr. BUYER. Will the gentleman yield?

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

Mr. BUYER. * * *