Chet Edwards

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Reclaiming my time, the amendment would cut these projects out of this bill. I would be glad to yield to Mr. Wamp for any comments he would like to make.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I don't oppose this amendment. I support this amendment.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. I want to thank the gentlewoman for raising this issue, and I am glad to support her effort on this. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, Members, on behalf of America's service men and women, our veterans, and their families, it is a privilege for me to present the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. I believe this bill and the work we have done since January of 2007 is work that all of us, Democrats and Republicans alike, can be very proud of. In this time of war, we have continued our tradition of a bipartisan Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, a bill that honors in a meaningful way the service and sacrifice of our service men and women, our veterans, and their families. In the past 2\1/2\ years, along with the passage of this bill, the Congress will have increased veterans health care and benefits funding by 58 percent. That is unprecedented in the history of this country, and I believe our veterans and their families have earned every dime of that funding. In addition, we have a new 21st-century GI Education bill. And, recently, President Obama signed into law a provision amending that bill that will provide a college scholarship to every child who has lost a mother or father in military service to our country since September 11, 2001. In 2\1/2\ years, this Congress will have done a number of things on behalf of our veterans and troops, including adding 8,300 VA processors to reduce the unconscionable backlog that veterans are having to stand in in order to receive their earned benefits. We will have provided funding for an additional 115 VA community- based outpatient clinics, and this bill adds 30 more. We will have provided an additional 42 vet centers, and this bill adds 28 more. We have allowed the Veterans Health Administration to hire an additional 2,657 doctors, 11,509 nurses, and other critical additional staff. We will increase the travel reimbursement rate, the per-mileage reimbursement rate for veterans having to travel, in some cases, hundreds of miles to VA hospitals--which has not been increased since 1979--we will increase that from 11 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile. To many in America, that extra 30 cents may not sound like much. To many of America's finest, our veterans, it's the difference between them being able to afford to drive to get the VA health care they need and deserve, or not. Our increased funding for veterans in this bill and over the past 2\1/2\ years means our veterans have better access to health care they need and deserve and have earned. It means improved access to health care for veterans in rural areas. And it means the opening of the doors of our VA hospitals and clinics to many middle- and low-income veterans that have not been allowed the opportunity that they've earned through their military service. Additionally, these resources ensure that our veterans will have shorter waiting times for doctor appointments. We have also worked hard to make sure that our service men and women know that Congress deeply respects the sacrifices that they and the unsung heroes of America's defense--their families--have made each and every day to keep our Nation safe. We've heard time and again in testimony that the best support we can give our military when they're deployed overseas is the knowledge that their families are cared for here at home. We have listened to that voice and have tried to fund a number of key initiatives for our troops. For example, in the past year, this subcommittee will have added $2.8 billion for new military hospitals so that our service men and women know that their families will get the best possible health care in high-quality facilities while they are serving overseas. We've added $1 billion for new child care centers to serve 20,000 additional military children, and $570 million in additional funding for barracks because Congress needs to show our volunteer forces from day one that we appreciate their decision to serve. The Subcommittee for Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs did not accomplish this alone. There are several key leaders that worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support these efforts. I want to especially commend Speaker Pelosi, who promised over 3 years ago that if she became Speaker she would make supporting our veterans and their families one of Congress' highest priorities. Speaker Pelosi has kept that promise to those who have kept their promise to serve our Nation, and I salute her for that. I want to salute Chairman Obey, another one of the unsung heroes in supporting America's veterans, our military, the service men and women, and their families. While Mr. Wamp and I, as ranking member and chairman of the subcommittee, have often been out front on this, Chairman Obey has provided the allocations, the unprecedented historic increased allocations for our subcommittee that has allowed us to accomplish many of the goals and achievements that I have mentioned in the last few minutes. In particular, above all other things that he has done, I want to thank Chairman Obey for providing a green light and encouraging and supporting and facilitating a historic initiative in this bill, which is, for the first time ever we will provide forward funding for veterans health care funding. That would not have happened without Mr. Obey's support. In addition, Chairman Spratt--not a member of our subcommittee, but the chairman of the House Budget Committee--has played a key role, along with Chairman Filner, the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. And, finally, but absolutely not least, I want to thank my colleague, my friend, and the ranking member of this committee, Mr. Wamp of Tennessee. He has been a partner and a leader at every step of the way in supporting our troops and our veterans and their families. His commitment to our military and our veterans is deep, is genuine, and he puts it to work every day by working hard on their behalf. I want to thank him for his vital role in not only shaping this bill, but our bill last year as well. Madam Chair, let me try to focus, rather than on a long list of numbers, on some of the major initiatives in this bill. As I referenced, for the first time in history we provide an advanced appropriation for VA medical care. This will allow the VA to invest taxpayer dollars more efficiently and more effectively. And I want to thank Mr. Obey, Mr. Spratt, Mr. Wamp and Speaker Pelosi for making this possible. I want to salute America's veteran service organizations, leaders of our veterans organizations who have made this one of their highest priorities. Second, we provide $450 million to build new troop housing for Army trainees, over 60,000 of whom are presently living in barracks that don't even meet minimum DOD standards. You know, 18- and 19-year-old military recruits don't have many lobbyists running around Capitol Hill on their behalf, but they deserve our Nation's respect and support for their decision to serve in the military. Third, we provide $200 million for the Guard and Reserve Construction Initiative, recognizing the vital role these troops are playing in Iraq and Afghanistan and in our Nation's defense. And particularly, in addition to his other efforts, I want to thank Mr. Wamp for taking a leadership role on this Guard and Reserve Initiative. Fourth, this bill begins a process of funding our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through the regular appropriations process, and we include $1.4 billion for vital military construction to support our troops in Afghanistan. Fifth, recognizing that the mental wounds of war can sometimes be as painful and long lasting as the physical wounds of war, we provide $4.6 billion for the VA to continue its improvements in PTSD and mental health care for America's vets. Six, this bill includes funding for the 1,200 new claims processors to reduce the backlog of veterans receiving the benefits they've earned. Seven, this bill also continues to open up, as I referenced briefly, VA medical care to more middle- and low-income veterans, many of whom have been locked out since a cap was placed on income thresholds back in 2003. Finally, and this is important, we want to ensure that the historic increases for VA health care and benefits, that those dollars are spent wisely. And I know Mr. Wamp and I share a strong commitment to this; we want to see that every dime of that is spent for the highest priority needs of our veterans, so together we supported increasing the VA Office of Inspector General by $19.2 million. And we have every intention, through our subcommittee, of exercising increased oversight of the VA to see that these tax dollars are spent effectively and efficiently. Just a few basic numbers: overall, this bill totals $77.9 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal year 2010. This is $239 million above President Obama's request and $5 billion more than fiscal year 2009. The bill will include $48.2 billion in fiscal year 2011 advanced funding for VA medical services, medical support and compliance. and medical facilities, an 8.3 percent increase over the historic funding level of 2010. In military construction, family housing, and BRAC, the bill provides $24.6 billion and fully funds BRAC 05 at $7.5 billion. For the VA in fiscal year 2010, the bill provides $53 billion in discretionary funding. This is $5.4 billion above the 2009 funding and matches President Obama's VA request, which I should point out was the largest increase requested by any President in over three decades. The fiscal year 2010 increase for the Veterans Health Administration is $4.4 billion, which is 11 percent over fiscal year 2009. Finally, I want to thank the people who work every day--in fact, day and night--behind the scenes without public applause for our veterans and our troops and their families. These are the people who make up the staff of the Military Construction and VA Appropriations Subcommittee, and I want to thank them by name: the minority staff, led by Martin Delgado, Liz Dawson and Kelly Shea, and Erin Fogelman and Juan Alvarez from Mr. Wamp's staff. The majority staff: led by my subcommittee clerk Carol Murphy, Tim Peterson, Mary Arnold, Walter Hearne, and Donna Shahbaz, and Lindsey Davis on my staff. I would also like to add a special thanks to John Conger, who has recently left my staff to work for the military as an employee of the Pentagon. All of these people have helped continue the long, proud tradition and legacy of this subcommittee to work on a bipartisan-- frankly, a nonpartisan--basis, always putting our troops and veterans first. And as I say that, I once again thank our ranking member for always fighting and putting first our troops and our veterans. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10JY09.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10JY09.002 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10JY09.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10JY09.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10JY09.005 With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, if there is a single unsung hero in this Congress on behalf of America's veterans, it's the gentleman from Wisconsin, the chairman of the full Appropriations Committee, Mr. Obey. And for that reason, I yield 2 minutes to him for any remarks he would care to make.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I consider it an honor to be even able to speak after Mr. Young, who has committed his lifetime and his heart to our servicemen and -women and our veterans. He and his wife commit every week to going out to our DOD and VA hospitals to let those great Americans know that their sacrifices are not forgotten. I want to thank him for inspiring all of us to remember the sacrifice our troops and veterans have made. With that, it's a privilege for me to recognize the vice chair of our subcommittee, who has been a leader at every step of the way on so many issues on behalf of our veterans, Mr. Farr of California, for 2 minutes.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I would like to recognize a member of our committee, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Salazar), an Army veteran who has been a strong voice on behalf of our veterans and military, for 1 minute.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. I first want to thank Mr. Buyer for taking the lead and for fighting to ensure that alternative sources of energy are utilized by the VA. This is an important issue and initiative. Our bill does take into consideration this important need, and VA plans to fund a significant number of renewable energy projects with resources in this bill. I want to assure you that I will emphasize to the VA the importance of this effort. I recognize, and I think this is critical, the result of your efforts, that every dollar saved through energy conservation in the VA will result in an additional dollar going directly to better health care and benefits for veterans. I further look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that the VA appropriately employs the use of solar technology to reduce energy costs and to benefit our environment.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) who has been the leading voice in this subcommittee and the House for improving mental health care services for America's veterans and services to homeless veterans.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Will the ranking member yield?

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. The gentleman from Delaware has raised a very important issue, and as someone who once represented Fort Hood, Texas, through three combat deployments, I strongly believe in the need to treat our fallen and their families with the utmost dignity and respect. So it will be a privilege for me to work with the gentleman on this issue. And I am hopeful that we can rectify this problem by the time we get through conference.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I'd like to yield 1 minute to an active voice on our subcommittee on behalf of veterans and our troops, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield myself 2 minutes and yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) for the purposes of a colloquy.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. I thank the gentleman. I agree with the gentleman that our veterans deserve quality health care. It's crucial to move forward to get the new clinic operational as soon as possible. The VA is recognized as a leader in quality health care, and we want to do everything possible to enhance that reputation.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. It's of the utmost importance that we address these concerns in a timely and expeditious manner so we can continue to get the quality health care the VA provides to the veterans in question. I know that this matter has also been of concern to the veterans in the district of the gentlewoman from Ohio, Ms. Kaptur, and I know that she wants their concerns addressed as well. The language in the committee report is not designed to needlessly delay the activation of the Toledo clinic, but simply to ensure some of the concerns raised by veterans are responded to.

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

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield myself 2 minutes, and I'd like to yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) for the purposes of a colloquy.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. I yield myself 1 additional minute.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. The committee believes this exclusion of California veterans was not the intent of Congress when it passed the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The committee will ask the VA to work with the affected States, including the State of California, to ensure that veterans attending private institutions can participate fully in the Post-9/11 educational assistance program.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield myself 2 minutes and yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. I'm familiar with the unfortunate situation that occurred in Pittsburgh. There was a report issued by the Office of Inspector General, correct?

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Given the increases we've provided the Office of Inspector General at the VA, I look forward to working with the gentleman to see if we can't get the IG to take a second look at this serious issue in Pennsylvania.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield myself 1 minute, and I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include tabular and extraneous material on H.R. 3082.