Charles Dent

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I am certainly sympathetic to the intent of the gentleman's amendment to increase funding for suicide prevention outreach programs. Obviously, we all know this is a very serious problem. These programs already received an 11 percent increase in our bill, for a total of $164 million. So I do not oppose the amendment, and I urge its adoption. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition, but I do not oppose the amendment.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I share the gentlewoman's concern about the importance of telehealth as a way to provide healthcare services remotely to patients. It is especially useful in the treatment of mental health and behavioral health issues. The VA is a leader in telehealth activities, providing 2.1 million consultations to more than 677,000 veterans in 2015, many of whom were in rural areas. VA funding for telehealth will total almost $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2017. I do not oppose the amendment. I urge its adoption.

Mr. DENT. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. DENT. I will just say very briefly, Mr. Chairman, I know the gentleman is very interested, as we all are, in finding ways to ensure that the VA healthcare providers receive up-to-date and comprehensive training in the proper use of pain management medications. So many of our veterans struggle with chronic pain, and we have seen the tragic consequences of overprescription of opioids as a method of treatment. I appreciate the gentleman's interest and his advocacy. I have no objections to gentleman's amendment, and I urge adoption. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition of this amendment.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I respectfully object. We haven't seen any of the amendments yet; so I think we should just proceed in the regular order.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order until we get the amendments.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, this money, I guess, would strike the OCO funding for the Navy. The money for the Navy is going to be used in Djibouti, I believe, for a runway and also for a medical and dental facility for our troops. So I, again, respectfully oppose the gentleman's amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I oppose the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup).

Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4974, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, it is my honor and privilege to bring H.R. 4974, the fiscal year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to the House for consideration. I present this bill alongside my very good friend and ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), who has been an essential partner all along the way. I greatly appreciate the participation and support of our committee members on both sides of the aisle as we considered priorities and funding levels for the important programs in our bill. We analyzed the budget request, developed questions, and held oversight hearings to get direct feedback from members of all the services, the Department of Defense leadership, the Secretary of the VA, and the VA inspector general. We received over 1,000 requests from Members, again, from both sides of the aisle, and we gave them full and fair consideration. The bill is also the product of actively listening to the concerns of our veterans and veteran advocates, servicemembers, spouses, caregivers, military family members, and healthcare providers both within and outside the VA over the past year. As we consider this bill, I can't proceed further without noting that this subcommittee has a formidable level of support from the chair and ranking member of the full committee. So I thank Chairman Rogers and the ranking member, Mrs. Lowey. Their attention, oversight, and genuine care for the military and veterans has been inspiring. To round out the team, we have some great support from our professional staff: Maureen Holohan, Sue Quantius, Sarah Young, Tracey Russell, and Matt Washington on the committee staff; and Sean Snyder, Drew Kent, and Heather Smith on my personal staff. I would also like to note Michael Reed and Michael Calcagni with Mr. Bishop of Georgia's office. We couldn't do it without them. I would also like to note the retirement of the senior member of our subcommittee, Sam Farr. He has been on this subcommittee since 1999. In our full committee meeting, we went into detail about Sam's accomplishments on this subcommittee, including being the architect of the Monterey model, which is now the benchmark for successful public- private partnership in a community with a base closure. Sam, wherever you may be, your commitment, passion, and good humor will be missed. All the best to you in your pending retirement. H.R. 4974 demonstrates our firm commitment to fully supporting our Nation's veterans and servicemembers. Our investment of $81.6 billion for military construction, VA, and related agencies, $1.2 billion over last year's level, is unprecedented. The bill addresses issues to help veterans in every part of the country--every congressional district-- and our troops around the world. This bill provides comprehensive support for servicemembers, military families, and veterans. It supports our troops with the facilities and services necessary to maintain readiness and morale at bases here in the States and overseas. It provides for Defense Department schools and health clinics that take care of our military families. The bill funds our veteran healthcare systems to ensure that our promise to care for those who sacrificed in defense of this great Nation continues as those men and women return home. We owe this to our veterans and are committed to sustained oversight so that programs deliver what they promise and taxpayers are well served by the investments we make. On the military construction side, the bill provides a total of $7.9 billion for military construction projects and family housing, including base and overseas contingency operations funding, OCO funding--an increase of $250 million over the President's request. This funding meets DOD's most critical needs, including priority projects for combatant commanders and funding new mission requirements. It provides $304 million for military medical facilities. It provides $246 million for Department of Defense educational facilities, for construction or renovation of four schools. It supports our Guard and Reserve through $673 million for facilities in 21 States. It includes $514 million for projects from the Department of Defense's unfunded priority list, benefiting the most critical projects--as identified by the services--that were not included in the budget request. It fully funds military family housing at $1.3 million. It provides $178 million for the NATO Security Investment Program, which is $43 million over last year's level, to deal with increasing threats and necessary investments overseas. On Veterans Affairs, this legislation includes a total of $176 billion in combined discretionary and mandatory funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Discretionary funding alone for Veterans programs in the bill is $73.5 billion. Total fiscal year 2017 discretionary funding is $2 billion above fiscal year 2016, which is a 3 percent increase, and $1.5 billion below the budget request. Within that total, VA medical care is provided with $64 billion, a 5 percent increase over last year--again, a 5 percent increase over last year for VA medical care. Again, on VA medical services, the bill funds VA medical services at $52.5 billion. That includes $850 million that VA came back and asked for this year, on top of the advanced funding provided last year. Many Members expressed concerns about medical services, and we were able to fully fund the budget request for hepatitis C at $1.5 billion. We are paying for treatments for so many of our veterans who are being cured from this horrible disease of hepatitis C. The drugs are very expensive. They have come down in price a bit, and that has helped us serve more veterans. Veterans homelessness is at $1.6 billion, long-term care at $8.6 billion, caregiver stipends at $725 million, and Office of Inspector General is at $160 million. For disability claims, we provide the full request for the Veterans Benefits Administration, which is a $118 million increase over fiscal year 2016, and the full budget request for the Board of Veterans Appeals, which is a $46 million increase. The bill will enhance transparency and accountability at the VA through further oversight and an increase for the VA Office of Inspector General's independent audits and investigations. The legislation also contains $260 million for the modernization of the VA electronic health record and includes restricting all of the funding until the VA meets milestones and certifies interoperability to meet statutory requirements. Major construction, we continue to focus on major construction oversight. The bill includes language that will hold back 100 percent of the funding for the largest construction projects until VA contracts for outside Federal management, and we maintain strict restrictions on transfers, use of bid savings, and scope changes. The bill provides $528 million for major construction projects in Reno, Nevada; Long Beach, California; as well as cemeteries in Florida, New York, and Colorado. We include bill language regarding improved standards for the suicide hotline and certification of mental health therapists to expand access for veterans who need their care. I don't need to explain to anybody in this body this great need here to help with the mental health needs of so many of our veterans. VA performance awards. The bill prohibits all performance awards for VA senior executives. This was in response to multiple Member requests to restrict bonuses of various types at the VA. I understand this is controversial. But given the horrendous mismanagement that we have seen at many of the VA facilities across the country, we were compelled to send a strong message about accountability. The prohibition we included has passed as a floor amendment several years in a row, so that is why it is included in the base bill this year. I will tell you that we have, obviously, many great and wonderful employees at the VA who are doing their best every day to provide for our veterans, whether it is through benefits or through the health system or on their educational needs, so I wanted to make sure that we make that point. But there is a need for some accountability, and that is why we had to insert this particular provision. We have received some unfounded criticism from the administration for the actions that we have taken. The administration may not be happy with any change to its budget proposal. But this bill provides very generous funding that adheres to the law and our responsibility to practice fiscal responsibility. Overall, with this bill and the funds that were provided in advance last year, for fiscal year 2017, the VA will have available 98 percent of what it asked for--98 percent of what they asked for is provided. I would wager that there won't be another Department in that enviable position. This shows the level of commitment we have to our veterans and their families. I think that should be noted. So despite any criticism, we should all be proud of this bill and what we have done in it. Let me tell you, I can say with absolute certainty, the VA's problems stem from poor management and not too little money. We continue to push for better management, and the Secretary has replaced most of the senior managers at headquarters and in the field. So many VA employees, as I mentioned earlier, are deeply committed-- overwhelmingly, they are committed--to the veteran. They are talented, and they work very hard. I have met these folks, and I appreciate them very much. I visit with them in eastern Pennsylvania on a regular basis and in south central Pennsylvania. But the ``corrosive culture'' that has been cited at the VA remains the root of VA's problem. I want to briefly discuss the Choice Act or, as we call it, the VACAA, a little bit. I, and probably all of you, fully support the Choice Act, and want veterans to have access to quality health care at a convenient location for them. Veterans want to be served. They want to be taken care of in the communities where they live. It is better for the veteran. It is better for the family. And we want to make sure our veterans have access to some of the finest health care institutions in the world that may not be part of the VA system. We need to do that. The Choice Act was so popular that it brought a lot of demand to the VA, and the VA has been spending both Choice Act funds and discretionary funds to meet the increased demand. The Choice Act expires at the end of fiscal year 2017, and its funding is being depleted sooner than that. Some of the Choice programs are already out of money, and others will be out of money halfway through the year. For example, the Choice Act hires of medical professionals to cut the backlog of appointments runs out of funds to pay those people halfway through the year. We--and when I say we, that is discretionary appropriations--are picking up a $600 million tab to pay them through the end of fiscal year 2017. It is the right thing to do, but it is not something that we had planned for. There will be unprecedented and massive demands on the discretionary side to continue programs started with a $15 billion surge of emergency funding a few years ago through the VACAA. That is a huge issue for fiscal year 2018. Right now, it is incumbent on Congress to reform VA health care with a responsible plan that meets the needs of veterans in a sustainable manner, and I hope that we can take that matter very seriously. It will be a huge issue next year, and it is an issue already this year. With respect to the related agencies, we fund the American Battle Monuments Commission, the Armed Forces Retirement Home, Arlington National Cemetery, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans at the requested funding levels, which total $241 million. In closing, this is a very solid, bipartisan bill that is focused on the needs of servicemembers, veterans, and, most especially, all their families. We are $1.8 billion over the fiscal year 2016 level. That is more than a 2 percent increase. We have provided for our military and veterans to the very best level we can in a manner that is fiscally responsible and consistent with the budget agreement we enacted into law last year. Did we fund every last dime requested? No. But not every idea has merit, and not every project is mission critical. We did not fund some projects, we cut some requested increases, and we rescinded funds. These were fair decisions and part of our responsibility, as appropriators. We will do a lot of good with this bill. It is fair. It is balanced. It is generous. And on behalf of our servicemembers, military families, and veterans, I urge support for this legislation. Let's take care of those who have sacrificed for our country. Again, I would like to thank everybody for their help and support along the way with this bill, both all of the Members and staff. I reserve the balance of my time. 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Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the distinguished chairman of the full committee.

Charles Dent

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