Ander Crenshaw

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. In the interest of time, Madam Chair, I just want to rise in support of the amendment by the gentleman from Kentucky. I think it's a good amendment, and I encourage my colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the gentleman for all the work that he has done in helping to put this continuing resolution together. This is a giant step forward in stopping the culture of spending that has gone on here in this town for a long time and begins a culture of savings. In the subcommittee which I have been asked to chair, the Legislative Branch only deals with maybe one-half of 1 percent of all the money that we're talking about, but we didn't think that we ought to be immune to all the pain that goes on as well. In fact, I think, when times are tough, leaders ought to lead. And so we can help save taxpayers dollars by spending less money on ourselves, and that's what we do in this bill. We cut the accounts of the leadership offices. We cut the accounts of all the Members' offices. We cut the accounts of the committee staff and their offices. In fact, the Appropriations Committee, which Mr. Rogers chairs, will reduce their spending by 9 percent. So certainly Congress is taking the budget axe to its own spending and leading by example, and I think that's important. So as we move forward, Mr. Chairman, I think that we can do a whole lot more with a whole lot less around this place. We want to lead by example. That's what we're trying to do, and I think we are taking a giant step forward.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his great leadership. Mr. Speaker, I plan to vote to repeal this health care law and replace it with some commonsense, workable solutions. Why? Because I've been listening to my constituents--listening to what they have to say, what they ask for. I can tell you they are not asking for a bill that weakens our economy and causes jobs to disappear. They are not asking for a brand new entitlement and then pretending only partly to pay for it. They are not asking for a bill that takes away the rights of seniors to have a choice in the Medicare program, and they are certainly not asking for new taxes--but that's what they're getting under this health care bill unless it's replaced. What they are asking for is the right to choose their own doctors and the right to get the treatment they need when they need it. That's what they're asking for. They're asking that we bring down the cost, to make some commonsense reforms, to make it more affordable, more accessible. That's what we should focus on.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding the time. I rise in strong support of this resolution. What does it do? You have heard quite simply that it saves the American taxpayers millions of dollars. How does it do it? Quite simply, it says we are going to spend less money in this House. These are difficult times, and we can't just keep on doing things like we have always done them. We have got to change things. No more perks, no more privileges, no more waste. We have a chance with this resolution to, in the House, look at ourselves in the mirror and say we are going to lead by example. The American people have been making these tough choices all along. I think it's time that this House put its own house in order. But we have to remember that actions speak louder than words. Difficult times mean leaders have to lead. We have a chance to take a bold step to say that we're going to try to stop this culture of spending that we've all gotten used to and say, Let's start a culture of savings. Now, that's not going to be easy. It's going to be hard. It's going to be painful. It's going to be difficult. It's going to be tough. But we must do it. And that's where we begin to start. That's what this resolution does. It says that we're going to take the first step. We're going to cut our own spending. We're going to do more with less. And I think right now we can do a whole lot more with a whole lot less. I know that, you know that, and I think the American people know that. But we all know that we need money to provide services. Right now, it seems to me that government needs something more. We need discipline to rein in spending. We need courage to make the right decisions, even when they're hard. And we need to seize the challenge to provide services in these difficult times. We've got to make sure that every task of government is accomplished more efficiently and more effectively than it ever has been before, because if life is going to change in America, life has to change here in Washington. And this is the first step. So I urge the adoption of this resolution.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero, United States Marine Corps (USMC) Corporal Tyler Southern of Jacksonville, Florida. CPL Southern was born in Anderson, South Carolina and moved to Jacksonville in 1991. After graduating from Mandarin High School in 2007, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. CPL Southern chose the Marines because they are ``First to Fight.'' He turned 18 in USMC basic training and celebrated his next birthday deployed in Iraq. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for his outstanding performance. For his 20th birthday, he was training for his next combat deployment at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twenty-nine Palms. Before CPL Southern could celebrate his 21st birthday, he made a sacrifice for our nation that we will never be able to repay. While on patrol in Afghanistan on May 5, 2010, he stepped on an IED. He lost both his legs, his right arm and severely damaged part of his left arm and hand. However even with these catastrophic injuries, he clung to life! He has been awarded the Purple Heart for his valor and combat injuries by the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. He comes from a long line of family members who have served our nation. His father was in the Navy, and his brothers are currently serving. With the help of his family and the men and women of Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he continues to make incredible progress. Each day, he teaches us with his courage, faith and can do attitude! On August 22, 2010, he turns 21 and in celebration of his birthday I ask that this poem penned in honor of Corporal Tyler Southern, his family, his incredible courage and the United States Marine Corps by Albert Caswell be placed in the Congressional Record. First To Fight First . . . First To Fight! Brilliant men who bring their light! Who go out on point, who evil must fight! All with hearts of courage full, oh so very bright! To win that day, to win that night! All out there in the night! Magnificent Men in green, who upon battlefields of honor . . . all of those wrongs so right! As all throughout our Country Tis of Thee, have but come such fine sons indeed . . . so bright! Who for all of us, so die and bleed . . . to give to this our nation, all of what she so needs! To Be Free . . . Yes, you Tyler our fine Southern Son . . . all in your short life, so much you have done! One of Florida's Brightest Son! As on that morning when you awoke, and saw all of the heartache that which this war had invoked . . . You had a choice, give up . . . or listen to your fine soul . . . your most inner voice! And as the tears rolled down your fine face, you did not so hesitate . . . all in what your heart, would create! Watching your courage, The Angels began to cry and sing! For you Marine, are but the most splendid of all things! While, all in such a short time . . . somehow your great heart has found the strength to find! To find your way back home, To Teach Us . . . all in what your strong soul now so owns! To Beseech Us All, showing us what courage can now so conquer . . . can so own! Because, Marine's Do! Marine's Lead! HOORAH JAR HEAD in what your life's said! Are First To Fight! Whether, on battlefields of honor . . . or against all odds to death so cheat! For some men are but put upon this earth . . . to inspire us all, in their fine worth! Who live by a code, of Strength in Honor So . . . Who go out into that night, all in their most brilliant shades green to fight! So our children may awake, all in a world of freedom that they for us so make! For as long as we have such Strong Sons . . . Southern Men as you Tyler, who for us so do what must be done! Then, this our Nation's Flag of Freedom . . . shall forever wave against the sun! And if I ever had a Son, I but hope and pray that he could but be as fine as you the one! Who against all odds, all in the darkest of sun's! Will Always Be First To Fight! As Thy Will Be Done! For you see in Heaven, you need not arms or legs . . . And where, I pray to join you one day! Amen!

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I yield myself 1 minute. I would ask Chairman Edwards if he would engage in a brief colloquy. Mr. Edwards, it is my understanding that the committee authorized a study in March to review various portions of the Veterans Health Administration. As I understand it, the committee has just received the report. Once the report has been analyzed by the committee staff, I believe it would be important, as we move this veterans' appropriations bill forward, that we use the recommendations in the report, if feasible, to provide better oversight and better transparency to the health care spending at the VA.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Edwards, I appreciate the concerns that have been raised here, and I think, as you point out, this is a very important subject, very worthwhile. And to the question of where the money comes from, those minor construction projects, I think everyone has a concern about that. But I think if Mr. Bilirakis is willing to work, there is probably a way to find an offset that doesn't impact the minor construction. There are some funds, as you know, that might be available. And I would encourage Mr. Bilirakis, with your commitment, to say let's try to figure out a way to do this, find a way to pay for it, find out what the real costs are. And it says up to four. Maybe there is a way just to begin that process, because we know, based on what Mr. Kennedy had said earlier, it's a very, very important issue.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CRENSHAW. Reclaiming my time, the amendment allows the VA to use this funding at any location that it seeks?

Mr. CRENSHAW. I have a couple of questions. We have a process for building outpatient clinics. I just wondered: Does this amendment, in any way, try to circumvent the process? Does it direct where the money would be spent in any way? I yield to the gentlewoman.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I claim time in opposition, though I am not opposed to the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I continue to reserve.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First let me just say that I rise in support of this appropriations bill. It's the first appropriations bill that we will bring to the floor today, and I think it's an excellent bill. I would like to start by thanking Chairman Edwards, not only for his leadership, but for the example that he sets to make every member of the subcommittee feel like they are valued. He has treated everyone with a sense of fairness. It has been an open process, bipartisan process, and we appreciate that very much. I think because of that atmosphere that everything we do in this subcommittee is really geared to make sure that we put the best interests of the men and women in uniform first, and put their families first, the veterans, and those fallen heroes. I want to say a word about Ranking Member Zach Wamp. I am here in his stead. He is back home in Tennessee trying to represent the people of Tennessee in a different way, as the Governor of that State. But I can tell you that even though he is not here, as Mr. Edwards mentioned, he has been very much a part of this process. I think this bill is a reflection of his dedication, his commitment to the men and women in uniform. And I know that I've heard Mr. Wamp say on occasion that serving as the ranking member of this subcommittee has been the highest achievement of his career here in the House of Representatives, and so we wish him well as he leaves. I want to also say a word about Mr. Young. He's not here today, but he has been a long-time member of this subcommittee. I think Chairman Edwards agrees that he has been a great champion of the men and women in uniform. He and his wife, Beverly, are often visitors at our military hospitals to see the folks that have come back, the wounded warriors. If he were here, I'm sure he would stand up and say that he believes this is a very good bipartisan bill. He is recovering from some surgery himself, so I know we all wish him well in this committee. Mr. Edwards has done a great job of talking about kind of an overview of what goes on here, and so I don't want to repeat that. I certainly want to echo his words of congratulations to the staff; we thank everyone for their hard work. But I want to mention a couple of items that were brought up that were concerns that, because of the open process, because of the bipartisan nature in our subcommittee markup, members had a chance to talk about some issues of concern. One was, and Mr. Edwards mentioned that, we found that while we were adding dollars to most of the programs in the VA, the Inspector General was kind of held to last year's level. We all felt like--it was a bipartisan agreement--that the Inspector General has so much to offer in terms of oversight, in terms of accountability, by doing audits, that they ought to have additional resources, and so we added $6 million there. Another concern that was raised at the subcommittee level was the VA had decided that they wanted to reduce the number of claims processors they had in the new GI bill as part of the veterans affairs. You all remember when we passed that updated version of the GI bill and added benefits that are so important to our veterans as they come back, and yet we found out that last year there had been quite a bit of problems just because of the increased demand on those claims processors. We thought it would be a bad idea to reduce the number of folks that were processing those claims when last year this chaos was created--and my office got calls, I know other Members got calls because the tuition payments weren't being made in a timely fashion, the claims weren't being processed; in fact, sometimes the checks were written by hand and delivered without much accountability. And so while we applaud the VA for saying we want to try to do more with less, we thought right now that would be penny wise and pound foolish. And so we added back those claims processors. We want to make sure that we get everything done on time. Next year, they're actually estimating the increase will be 31 percent. There will be over 2.2 million claims made under those new GI benefits, and we want to make sure that they are paid on time. So we added back those individuals. And, finally, there was a concern about Arlington National Cemetery. I think a lot of people read about some of the horror stories that went on there. We found out that the management was really a little bit behind in terms of modern day. So the Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, acted very quickly and very forcefully. He set up some guidelines to improve what's going on at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Young offered some report language to make sure that the members of this subcommittee will have a chance to exercise appropriate oversight. So those were areas of concern that I think were addressed because of this open process, and those amendments were adopted unanimously on a bipartisan basis. I would say from the big-picture standpoint, as Mr. Edwards has talked about, I came to Congress primarily because I believed that the number one responsibility of the Federal Government is to protect American lives, and I still believe that today. But what I found when I was assigned to this subcommittee was that we also have a sacred responsibility to make sure that the men and women who wear the uniform are treated with respect, that they have adequate housing, and that they have the quality of life they so richly deserve. This bill continues the commitment that we've made there. Sometimes when you think about military construction projects, you think about a new hangar or a new dock or a ship or a landing strip or a wharf; but as Mr. Edwards pointed out, housing is so very vital. We've done a great job, and we continue that commitment. Whether it's a barracks or whether it's married housing, we want to have the housing we would want our sons and daughters to live in, and we're making great progress in that area. I think we all agree we've got the best trained and the most equipped military in the world, and we've worked hard to do that. But we are also beginning to make sure that when people come back that have been under some stress, under unique situations, that they have adequate counseling, that they have those kinds of programs that are so very important; and I think this bill continues that commitment. And just finally I would say there are a couple of important projects that are funded this year as part of the administration's budget deal with my district in northeast Florida. There is a naval station, Mayport, that the Navy has decided to make that home port for a nuclear carrier; and so last year there was money to begin dredging, to begin wharf upgrades. This year, there is $2 million for planning and design to continue that process. I worked with the chief of naval operations-- in fact, spoke with him just about a month ago--and the Navy is still very committed, because of national security, to make sure that we have the ability to disperse our assets, to make sure we have a backup nuclear maintenance facility, and I thank the subcommittee and the members for their support. Also in northeast Florida, the Marines have a project called Blount Island, where a great deal of the materiel goes back and forth through that port to the Middle East. There is money to upgrade and make that more of a world-class facility. So this is a great bill that I think we can all be proud of. And it really is the result of the leadership of Mr. Edwards and his hard work, the leadership of Mr. Wamp and his hard work and, actually, the hard work of every member of this subcommittee. And I think because of that, we have a bill that truly honors our American heroes. It speaks to the people that defend us today, it speaks to those who have returned as veterans, and also to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. And so for those reasons, Madam Chair, I urge everyone to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield myself 1 additional minute. Mr. Edwards, please continue.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Chair, I think we have heard today what a well-balanced bill this is, as we said at the beginning. And I think it demonstrates--it's an example of what happens when people come together in an open process, in a fair process, in a bipartisan process. I think this bill demonstrates the work that we can do when we work together. So again, I am honored to be part of this process, to work with the chairman and the ranking member. I urge everyone to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this rule. I want to make it clear that I'm very much in favor of the underlying legislation, but this legislation is being brought to us today under a rule that will restrict our Members, both Democrats and Republicans, from offering amendments, having them considered. I thought I would give you a little perspective because this bill has come to us this day through the regular order, a very open and fair process. Sixteen hearings took place. All the members of the subcommittee had an opportunity to ask questions and feel like they were being treated fairly, listened to their input. At the subcommittee level, six amendments were offered: four by the minority, two by the majority. They were all adopted unanimously in a bipartisan way. Then we went to the full committee, the full Appropriations Committee. At that point, eight amendments were offered, discussed, and they were adopted as well, in a bipartisan way, four from the Democrats, four from the Republicans. Yet, when we got to the Rules Committee, that's where the fair and open process ran into a roadblock, the graveyard, if you will, because now we come to the floor with no longer a process where Members can stand up, offer amendments, maybe make a good bill even better, because this rule does not allow that. I would think that at this time, when deficits are at record levels, when spending is more important to be looked at with a wise and efficient look, that we would allow Members to come to the floor and offer their input, but no, that's not the case. So while the underlying legislation is very important and very good, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and bring this back under an open rule and allow their participation.