Charles Dent

Mr. DENT

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment. This amendment essentially would strike the OCO funds that would be provided to the Air Force, specifically in Oman for the airlift apron. I want to point out that the President of the United States requested funding for this same project under OCO in fiscal year 2011 for the airlift ramp. I am looking at the map actually of the work. It is on the same site. What I am saying is OCO has been used for this at the request of the President in fiscal year '11. We are talking about using it on the same site for the same purpose. So, again, I would argue that the airlift apron in Oman is part of a facility that is very much part of our counterterrorism operations in that part of the world. So again, I would urge rejection of this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. DENT. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DENT. Madam Chair, again, just urging all Members to support this important legislation. It is the right thing to do. We have no further speakers at this time. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham) for a colloquy.

Mr. DENT. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DENT. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from California for offering this opportunity to clarify the meaning of our report language. I do share your concern about the mismanagement of construction projects by the VA. It is delaying vital projects such as Livermore. In this report, we simply made clear the priority for funding hospital construction and seismic corrections. Within the funds provided in the bill, unallocated major construction funding remains available, and the VA has the ability to allocate those funds towards French Camp as well as other projects in the budget request. The report instructs the VA to make that determination and provide a list of projects to this committee. I have heard similar concerns from other Members, including the gentlelady, Ms. Lee, who just spoke a few moments ago, who have projects included in this request, such as Alameda Clinic and a rehabilitative therapy clinic in St. Louis, which the administration could also choose to fund. I appreciate these concerns and the opportunity to provide some clarity. I hope that is helpful. But nothing precludes funding. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I just want to respond to the gentlewoman from Florida's comments. You know, a lot of people have been saying that we cut spending in this bill. The President requested an 8 percent increase. We provided for a 6 percent increase. You know, because the President makes a request does not mean that Congress has to behave like potted plants and simply accede to every item that the President has asked for. That is not our role as Members of Congress. Our job is to provide some real serious oversight over a department that has failed in many respects. And Members on both sides of the aisle agree with that, given the problems of Denver, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Oakland, and elsewhere. I can go through a long list. But some of the oversight mechanisms in this bill, I should mention, include things like requiring a spending plan before construction dollars can be spent. We did that because of what has happened all across the country. We prohibit increases in the scope of construction projects. We prohibit transfer of funds between construction projects. We fence 75 percent of funding until conditions are met, cut funding for poorly performing offices, require detailed quarterly reports regarding disability compensation claims. We have tightened restrictions on reprogramming. We have also rescinded $415 million from VA pay accounts, that is pay and bonuses, limiting the amount of money available for pay increases and bonuses. Should we reward failure at the VA? I mean, there are management problems at the VA. It is not simply about money. We all know this. And given you can open up a newspaper every day, just 2 weeks ago in the city of Philadelphia, at the regional office there, a scathing inspector general's report about the failures, and to simply reward that would be unconscionable on our part.

Mr. DENT. I yield to the gentlewoman.

Mr. DENT. Reclaiming my time, I will tell you that this budget adequately meets--more than adequately meets--the needs of our servicemembers and our veterans and their families. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. DENT. Madam Chairman, I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to amend portions of the bill not yet read. Section 17 of chapter 2 of the House Practice book states in part: ``It is not in order to strike out or otherwise amend portions of a bill not yet read for amendment.'' I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. DENT. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the gentlewoman's amendment. With advantages in launch capabilities, we should explore protecting the east coast from our adversaries, as Mr. Turner and Ms. Stefanik have stated. She has been very articulate and a great advocate for her district in Fort Drum.

Mr. DENT. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I wish to speak on the point of order. The amendment proposes to amend portions of the bill not yet read. The amendment may not be considered en bloc under clause 2(f) of rule XXI because the amendment proposes to increase the level of outlays in the bill. I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

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

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, exactly 2 weeks ago, the VA Office of the Inspector General released its report on the gross mismanagement and claims manipulation that has long corroded the Philadelphia VA Regional Office. The issues revealed through that report reflect some of the worst instances of neglect and lack of accountability I have seen. These issues are unacceptable for our Nation's veterans. I have personally seen the consequences firsthand through my constituency served by the Philadelphia VA. This bill takes a number of steps to address the issues raised by the inspector general and help to ensure that they will not be repeated at any VA facility. I remain steadfast in my work to bring accountability and reform to the VA. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan).

Mr. DENT. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his dedication and determination to right the situation. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Chester County, Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).

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

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Chester County, Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello), who has been deeply concerned about this issue of the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Regional Office.

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

Mr. DENT. I know the gentleman and others are disappointed that we did not provide the full administration request for major construction, but we felt that it was more important to provide necessary health services for veterans than to add to the poorly managed major construction account. This amendment, I believe, proves the wisdom of our choice. To provide enough money for the French Camp project Mr. McNerney is interested in, we would have to gut the VA IT program, which is already $195 million below the request. I don't think many Members would be willing to accept the cuts that would need to be made to the electronic medical records system or the paperless disability claims processing system. We can't afford to sacrifice the good of the many veterans to accommodate a local or parochial project construction request. I understand the gentleman's concern and frustration, but I do believe that this request would do a lot of damage to the IT program and affect a lot of things that all of us are deeply concerned about in terms of an A-rated health record, EMR, and other important disability issues. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENT. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, but I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. DENT. Will the gentleman yield?