Bob Filner

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on S. 1963, as amended.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, another valued member of our committee, Mr. Ciro Rodriguez of Texas, authored an important provision in this bill, and I would recognize him for 1\1/2\ minutes.

Mr. FILNER. I yield myself 4 minutes. Mr. Speaker, when I became chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 3 years ago, the VA was strained to the breaking point by years of chronic underfunding. We were a country at war; yet, the Department of Veterans Affairs remained unprepared to care for the hundreds of thousands of new veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is simply our duty as a Nation, no matter where we stand on the war, to put our men and women in harm's way under the care of our Nation when they return. Under the Democratic leadership, Congress has provided almost a 60 percent increase for VA medical care funding over the last 3 years, adding over $20 billion to the VA budget baseline. S. 1963 demonstrates America's commitment to the dedicated servicemembers who have served in uniform and puts front and center the health care needs of veterans and their families. It is our pledge to them that we have not forgotten the sacrifices they have made in defense of this country. So in this bill, we help caregivers of injured veterans, women veterans, rural veterans, homeless veterans, and veterans with mental health issues. S. 1963 provides immediate support to the mothers, fathers, husbands, and wives caring for warriors from the current conflicts as well as from previous conflicts. Today we have the opportunity to recognize their tremendous sacrifice and share their heavy burden. The bill also expands and improves VA services for the 1.8 million women veterans currently receiving VA health care and goes a step further by anticipating the expected increase of women warriors over the next 5 years. This bill seeks to build a VA health care system respectful of the unique medical needs of women veterans. S. 1963 also advances America's commitment to end veterans' homelessness. Hundreds of thousands of veterans are at risk of homelessness because of poverty and the lack of support from family and friends. An increasing number of veterans of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are falling into this category, and we must be vigilant in providing support to this population. We expand the number of places where homeless vets may receive supportive services; and for our veterans struggling without a roof over their heads, this small change in the law will make a big difference in their lives. The bill also includes key provisions to improve health care provided to our rural veterans by authorizing stronger partnerships with community providers and the Department of Health and Human Services. These collaborations will allow VA to offer health care options to servicemembers living far from the nearest medical facility. In addition, we address the troubling reality of posttraumatic stress disorder and troubling incidents of suicide amongst the veterans' population. The bill requires a much-needed and long-awaited study on veteran suicide and requires the VA to provide counseling referrals for former members of the Armed Forces who are not otherwise eligible for readjustment counseling. S. 1963 provides higher priority status for Medal of Honor recipients, establishes a director of physician assistant services, and creates a committee on care of veterans with traumatic brain injury. It requires the VA to provide health care for herbicide-exposed Vietnam veterans and veterans of the Persian Gulf War who have insufficient medical evidence to establish a service-connected disability, and it prohibits the VA from collecting copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled. This bill, Mr. Speaker, demands our immediate attention. We owe our veterans a great debt of gratitude, and this bill represents an understanding that the sacrifices of our veterans are shared amongst all Americans. I urge all of my colleagues to support passage of S. 1963, as amended, and reserve the balance of my time. Explanatory Statement Submitted by Mr. Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Regarding the Amendment of the House of Representatives to S. 1963 Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 S. 1963, as amended, the ``Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010,'' reflects the Compromise Agreement between the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives (the Committees) on health care and related provisions for veterans and their caregivers. The provisions in the Compromise Agreement are derived from a number of bills that were introduced and considered by the House and Senate during the 111th Congress. These bills include S. 1963, a bill to provide assistance to caregivers of veterans, to improve the provision of health care to veterans, and for other purposes, which passed the Senate on November 19, 2009 (Senate bill); and H.R. 3155, a bill to provide certain caregivers of veterans with training, support, and medical care, and for other purposes, which passed the House on July 27, 2009 (House bill). In addition, the Compromise Agreement includes provisions derived from the following bills which were passed by the House: H.R. 402, a bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the ``William C. Tallent Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic,'' passed by the House on July 14, 2009; H.R. 1211, a bill to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, passed by the House on June 23, 2009; H.R. 1293, a bill to provide for an increase in the amount payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services, passed by the House on July 28, 2009; H.R. 2770, a bill to modify and update provisions of law relating to nonprofit research and education corporations, and for other purposes, passed by the House on July 27, 2009; H.R. 3157, a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Alexandria, Minnesota, as the ``Max J. Beilke Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic,'' passed by the House on November 3, 2009; H.R. 3219, a bill to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to insurance and health care, and for other purposes, passed by the House on July 27, 2009; and H.R. 3949, a bill to make certain improvements in the laws relating to benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, passed by the House on November 3, 2009. The Compromise Agreement also includes provisions derived from the following House bills, which were introduced and referred to the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs: H.R. 919, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health care professionals, and for other purposes, which was introduced on February 9, 2009; H.R. 3796, to improve per diem grant payments for organizations assisting homeless veterans, which was introduced on October 13, 2009; and H.R. 4166, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to educational assistance for health professionals, and for other purposes, which was introduced on December 1, 2009, and was concurrently referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs have prepared the following explanation of the Compromise Agreement. Differences between the provisions contained in the Compromise Agreement and the related provisions in the bills listed above are noted in this document, except for clerical corrections and conforming changes, and minor drafting, technical, and clarifying changes. Title I--Caregiver Support Assistance and Support Services for Family Caregivers (section 101) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 102) that would create a new program to help caregivers of eligible veterans who, together with the veteran, submit a joint application requesting services under the new program. Eligible veterans are defined as those who have a serious injury, including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma, or other mental disorder, incurred or aggravated while on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Within two years of program implementation, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would be required to submit a report on the feasibility and advisability of extending the program to veterans of earlier periods of service. Severely injured veterans are defined as those who need personal care services because they are unable to perform one or more independent activities of daily living, require supervision as a result of neurological or other impairments, or need personal care services because of other matters specified by the VA. For accepted caregiver applicants, VA would be required to provide respite care as well as pay for travel, lodging and per-diem expenses while the caregiver of an eligible veteran is undergoing necessary training and education to provide personal care services. Once a caregiver completes training and is designated as the primary personal care attendant, this individual would receive ongoing assistance including direct technical support, counseling and mental health services, respite care of no less than 30 days annually, health care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), and a monthly financial stipend. The provision in the Senate bill would require VA to carry out oversight of the caregiver by utilizing the services of home health agencies. A home health agency would be required to visit the home of a veteran not less often than once every six months and report its findings to VA. Based on the findings, VA would have the final authority to revoke a caregiver's designation as a primary personal care attendant. The provision also would require an implementation and evaluation report, and provide for an effective date 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. The House bill contains comparable provisions (section 2 and section 4) with some key differences. The provisions in the House bill would provide educational sessions, access to a list of comprehensive caregiver support services available at the county level, information and outreach, respite care, and counseling and mental health services to family and non- family caregivers of veterans of any era. For family caregivers of eligible veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the House bill would require VA to provide a monthly financial stipend, health care service through CHAMPVA, and lodging and subsistence to the caregiver when the caregiver accompanies the veteran on medical care visits. Eligible OEF or OIF veterans are defined as those who have a service-connected disability or illness that is severe; in need of caregiver services without which the veteran would be hospitalized, or placed in nursing home care or other residential institutional care; and are unable to carry out activities (including instrumental activities) of daily living. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision modified to no longer require VA to enter into relationships with home health agencies to make home visits every six months. In addition, the Compromise Agreement follows the House bill in creating a separate program of general family caregiver support services for family and non-family caregivers of veterans of any era. Such support services would include training and education, counseling and mental health services, respite care, and information on the support services available to caregivers through other public, private, and nonprofit agencies. In the event that sufficient funding is not available to provide training and education services, the Secretary would be given the authority to suspend the provision of such services. The Secretary would be required to certify to the Committees that there is insufficient funding 180 days before suspending the provision of these services. This certification and the resulting suspension of services would expire at the end of the fiscal year concerned. The overall caregiver support program for caregivers of eligible OEF or OIF veterans would authorize VA to provide training and supportive services to family members and certain others who wish to care for a disabled veteran in the home and to allow veterans to receive the most appropriate level of care. The newly authorized supportive services would include training and certification, a living stipend, and health care--including mental health counseling, transportation benefits, and respite. The Compromise Agreement also includes an authorization for appropriations that is below the estimate furnished by the Congressional Budget Office. The lower authorization level is based on information contained in a publication (Economic Impact on Caregivers of the Seriously Wounded, Ill, and Injured, April 2009) of the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA). This study estimated that, annually, 720 post-September 11, 2001 veterans require comprehensive caregiver services. The Compromise Agreement limits the caregiver program only to ``seriously injured or very seriously injured'' veterans who were injured or aggravated an injury in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. CNA found that the average requirement for such caregiver services is 18 months, and that only 43 percent of veterans require caregiver services over the long-term. CNA also found that, on average, veterans need only 21 hours of caregiver services per week. Only 233 family caregivers were referred by VA for training and certification through existing home health agencies in FY 2008. This represented five percent of all home care referrals. In FY 2009, only 168 family caregivers were referred to home care agencies for training and certification. Medical Care for Family Caregivers (section 102) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 102) that would provide health care through the CHAMPVA program for individuals designated as the primary care attendant for eligible OEF or OIF veterans and who have no other insurance coverage. The House bill contains a comparable provision (section 5), with a difference in the target population. Under the House bill, the target population would include all family caregivers of eligible OEF or OIF veterans, defined as those who have a service-connected disability or illness that is severe; are in need of caregiver services without which hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care would be required; and, are unable to carry out activities (including instrumental activities) of daily living. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Counseling and Mental Health Services for Family Caregivers (section 103) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 102) that would provide counseling and mental health services for family caregivers of OEF or OIF veterans. The House bill contains a comparable provision (section 3), except that counseling and mental health services would be available to caregivers of veterans of any era. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Lodging and Subsistence for Attendants (section 104) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 103) that would allow VA to pay for the lodging and subsistence costs incurred by any attendant who accompanies an eligible OEF or OIF veteran seeking VA health care. The House bill contains a comparable provision (section 6), with a difference in the target population. Under the House bill, the target population would include all family caregivers of eligible OEF or OIF veterans, defined as those who have a service-connected disability or illness that is severe; are in need of caregiver services without which hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care would be required; and, are unable to carry out activities (including instrumental activities) of daily living. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Title II--Women Veterans Health Care Matters Study of Barriers for Women Veterans to Health Care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (section 201) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 201) that would require VA to report, by June 1, 2010, on barriers facing women veterans who seek health care at VA, especially women veterans of OEF or OIF. H.R. 1211 contains a comparable provision (section 101) that would require a similar study of health care barriers for women veterans. The House provision also would define the parameters of the research study sample; direct VA to build on the work of an existing study entitled ``National Survey of Women Veterans in Fiscal Year 2007-2008;'' mandate VA to share the barriers study data with the Center for Women Veterans and the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans; and authorize appropriations of $4 million to conduct the study. VA would be required to submit to Congress a report on the implementation of this section within six months of the publication of the ``National Survey of Women Veterans in Fiscal Year 2007-2008'', and the final report within 30 months of publication. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Training and Certification for Mental Health Care Providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs on Care for Veterans Suffering from Sexual Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (section 202) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 204) that would require VA to implement a program for education, training, certification, and continuing medical education for mental health professionals, which would include principles of evidence-based treatment and care for sexual trauma. VA would also be required to submit an annual report on the counseling, care, and services provided to veterans suffering from sexual trauma, and to establish education, training, certification, and staffing standards for personnel providing treatment for veterans with sexual trauma. H.R. 1211 contains a similar provision (section 202), except it included no provision requiring VA to establish education, training, certification, and staffing standards for the mental health professionals caring for veterans with sexual trauma. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Pilot Program on Counseling in Retreat Settings for Women Veterans Newly Separated from Service in the Armed Forces (section 203) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 205) that would require VA to establish, at a minimum of five locations, a two-year pilot program in which women veterans newly separated from the Armed Forces would receive reintegration and readjustment services in a group retreat setting. The provision also would require a report detailing the pilot program findings and providing recommendations on whether VA should continue or expand the pilot program. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision but specifies that the program be carried out at a minimum of three, not five, locations. Service on Certain Advisory Committees of Women Recently Separated from Service in the Armed Forces (section 204) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 207) that would amend the membership of the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans and the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans to require that such committees include women recently separated from the Armed Forces and women who are minority group members and are recently separated from the Armed Forces, respectively. H.R. 1211 contains a similar provision (section 204) except that it would allow either men or women who are members of a minority group to serve on the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Pilot Program on Subsidies for Child Care for Certain Veterans Receiving Health Care (section 205) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 208) that would require VA to establish a pilot program through which child care subsidies would be provided to women veterans receiving regular and intensive mental health care and intensive health care services. The pilot program would be carried out in no fewer than three Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) for a duration of two years and, at its conclusion, there would be a requirement for a report to be submitted within six months detailing findings related to the program and recommendations on its continuation or extension. The provision also would direct VA, to the extent practicable, to model the pilot program after an existing VA Child Care Subsidy Program. H.R. 1211 contains a comparable provision (section 203), but it does not stipulate that the child care program shall be executed through stipends. Rather, stipends are one option among several listed, including partnership with private agencies, collaboration with facilities or program of other Federal departments or agencies, and the arrangement of after-school care. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision, with a modification to clarify that the child care subsidy payments shall cover the full cost of child care services. In addition, the provision expands the definition of veterans who qualify for the child care subsidy to women veterans who are in need of regular or intensive mental health care services but who do not seek such care due to lack of child care services. Finally, the Compromise Agreement follows the House provision by allowing for other forms of child care assistance. In addition to stipends, child care services may be provided through the direct provision of child care at an on-site VA facility, payments to private child care agencies, collaboration with facilities or programs of other Federal departments or agencies, and other forms as deemed appropriate by the Secretary. Care for Newborn Children of Women Veterans Receiving Maternity Care (section 206) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 209) that would authorize VA to provide post-delivery health care services to a newborn child of a woman veteran receiving maternity care from VA if the child was delivered in a VA facility or a non-VA facility pursuant to a VA contract for delivery. Such care would be authorized for up to seven days. H.R. 1211 contains a comparable provision (section 201), but would allow VA to provide care for a set seven-day period for newborn children of women veterans receiving maternity care. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Title III--Rural Health Improvements Improvements to the Education Debt Reduction Program (section 301) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 301) that would eliminate the cap in current law on the total amount of education debt reduction payments that can be made over five years so as to permit payments equal to the total amount of principal and interest owed on eligible loans. H.R. 4166 contains a provision (section 3), that would expand the purpose of the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), set forth in subchapter VII of chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code, to include retention in addition to recruitment, as well as to modify and expand the eligibility requirements for participation in the program. In addition, the provision would increase the total education debt reduction payments made by VA from $44,000 to $60,000 and raise the cap on payments to be made during the fourth and fifth years of the program from $10,000 to $12,000. The provision would also provide VA with the flexibility to waive the limitations of the EDRP and pay the full principal and interest owed by participants who fill hard-to-recruit positions at VA. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Education Assistance Program (section 302) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 302) that would require VA to establish a scholarship program for students accepted or enrolled in a program of study leading to certification or a degree in the areas of visual impairment or orientation and mobility. The student would be required to agree to maintain an acceptable level of academic standing as well as join VA as a full-time employee for three years following their completion of the program. VA would be required to disseminate information on the scholarship program throughout educational institutions, with a special emphasis on those with a high number of Hispanic students and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. H.R. 3949 contains the same provision (section 302). The Compromise Agreement contains this provision. Demonstration Projects on Alternatives for Expanding Care for Veterans in Rural Areas (section 303) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 305) that would authorize VA to carry out demonstration projects to expand care to veterans in rural areas through the Department's Office of Rural Health. Projects could include VA establishing a partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to coordinate care for veterans in rural areas at critical access hospitals, developing a partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate care for veterans in rural areas at community health centers, and the expanding coordination with the Indian Health Service to enhance care for Native American veterans. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Program on Readjustment and Mental Health Care Services for Veterans who Served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (section 304) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 306) that would require VA to establish a program providing OEF and OIF veterans with mental health services, readjustment counseling and services, and peer outreach and support. The program would also provide the immediate families of these veterans with education, support, counseling, and mental health services. In areas not adequately served by VA facilities, VA would be authorized to contract with community mental health centers and other qualified entities for the provision of such services, as well as provide training to clinicians and contract with a national non-profit mental health organization to train veterans participating in the peer outreach and support program. The provision would require an initial implementation report within 45 days after enactment of the legislation. Additionally, the Secretary would be required to submit a status report within one year of enactment of the legislation detailing the number of veterans participating in the program as well as an evaluation of the services being provided under the program. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision, but does not include the reporting requirement and authorizes rather than requires VA to contract with community mental health centers and other qualified entities in areas not adequately served by VA facilities. Travel Reimbursement for Veterans Receiving Treatment at Facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (section 305) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 308) that would authorize VA to increase the mileage reimbursement rate under section 111 of title 38, United States Code, to 41.5 cents per mile, and, a year after the enactment of this legislation, allow the Secretary to adjust the newly specified mileage rate to be equal to the rate paid to Government employees who use privately owned vehicles on official business. If such an adjustment would result in a lower mileage rate, the Secretary would be required to submit to Congress a justification for the lowered rate. The provision also would allow the Secretary to reimburse veterans for the reasonable cost of airfare when that is the only practical way to reach a VA facility. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Pilot Program on Incentives for Physicians Who Assume Inpatient Responsibilities at Community Hospitals in Health Professional Shortage Areas (section 306) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 313) that would require VA to establish a pilot program under which VA physicians caring for veterans admitted to community hospitals would receive financial incentives, of an amount deemed appropriate by the Secretary, if they maintain inpatient privileges at community hospitals in health professional shortage areas. Participation in the pilot program would be voluntary. VA would be required to carry out the pilot program for three years, in not less than five community hospitals in each of not fewer than two VISNs. In addition, VA would be authorized to collect third party payments for care provided by VA physicians to nonveterans while carrying out their responsibilities at the community hospital where they are privileged. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Grants for Veterans Service Organizations for Transportation of Highly Rural Veterans (section 307) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 315) that would require VA to establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas. Eligible grant recipients would include state veterans service agencies and veterans service organizations, and grant awards would not exceed $50,000. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Modifications of Eligibility for Participation in Pilot Program of Enhanced Contract Care Authority for Health Care Needs of Certain Veterans (section 308) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 316) that would clarify the definition of eligible veterans who are covered under a pilot program of enhanced contract care authority for rural veterans, created by section 403(b) of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-387, 122 Stat. 4110). Eligible veterans would be defined to include those living more than 60 minutes driving distance from the nearest VA facility providing primary care services, living more than 120 minutes driving distance from the nearest VA facility providing acute hospital care, and living more than 240 minutes driving distance from the nearest VA facility providing tertiary care. H.R. 3219 contains the same provision (section 206). The Compromise Agreement contains this provision. Title IV--Mental Health Care Matters Eligibility of Members of the Armed Forces Who Served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom for Counseling and Services Through Readjustment Counseling Services (section 401) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 401) that would allow any member of the Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard or Reserve, who served in OEF or OIF to be eligible for readjustment counseling services at VA Readjustment Counseling Centers, also known as Vet Centers. The provision of such services would be limited by the availability of appropriations so that this new provision would not adversely affect services provided to the veterans that Vet Centers are currently serving. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Restoration of Authority of Readjustment Counseling Service to Provide Referral and Other Assistance upon Request to Former Members of the Armed Forces Not Authorized Counseling (section 402) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 402) that would require VA to help former members of the Armed Forces who have been discharged or released from active duty, but who are not otherwise eligible for readjustment counseling. VA would be authorized to help these individuals by providing them with referrals to obtain counseling and services from sources outside of VA, or by advising such individuals of their right to apply for a review of their release or discharge through the appropriate military branch of service. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Study on Suicides among Veterans (section 403) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 403) that would require VA to conduct a study to determine the number of veterans who committed suicide between January 1, 1999 and the enactment of the legislation. To conduct this study, VA would be required to coordinate with the Secretary of Defense, veterans' service organizations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state public health offices and veterans agencies. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Title V--Other Health Care Matters Repeal of Certain Annual Reporting Requirements (section 501) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 501) that would eliminate the reporting requirements, set forth in sections 7451 and 8107 of title 38, United States Code, on pay adjustments for registered nurses. These reporting requirements date to a time when VA facility directors had the discretion to offer annual General Schedule (GS) comparability increases to nurses. Current law requires VA to provide GS comparability increases to nurses so that that pay adjustment report is no longer necessary. The provision would also eliminate the reporting requirement on VA's long-range health care planning which included the operations and construction plans for medical facilities. The information contained in this report is already submitted in other reports and plans, in particular the Department's annual budget request. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Submittal Date of Annual Report on Gulf War Research (section 502) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 502) that would amend the due date of the Annual Gulf War Research Report from March 1 to July 1 of each of the five years with the first report due in 2010. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Payment for Care Furnished to CHAMPVA Beneficiaries (section 503) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 503) that would clarify that payments made by VA to providers who provide medical care to a beneficiary covered under CHAMPVA shall constitute payment in full, thereby removing any liability on the part of the beneficiary. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Disclosure of Patient Treatment Information from Medical Records of Patients Lacking Decision-making Capacity (section 504) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 504) that would authorize VA health care practitioners to disclose relevant portions of VA medical records to surrogate decision-makers who are authorized to make decisions on behalf of patients lacking decision-making capacity. The provision would only allow such disclosures where the information is clinically relevant to the decision that the surrogate is being asked to make. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Enhancement of Quality Management (section 505) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 506) that would create a National Quality Management Officer to act as the principal officer responsible for the Veteran Health Administration's quality assurance program. The provision would require each VISN and medical facility to appoint a quality management officer, as well as require VA to carry out a review of policies and procedures for maintaining health care quality and patient safety. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Pilot Program on Use of Community-Based Organizations and Local and State Government Entities To Ensure That Veterans Receive Care and Benefits for Which They are Eligible (section 506) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 508) that would require VA to create a pilot program to study the use of community organizations and local and State government entities in providing care and benefits to veterans. The grantees would be selected for their ability to increase outreach, enhance the coordination of community, local, state, and Federal providers of health care, and expand the availability of care and services to transitioning servicemembers and their families. The two-year pilot program would be required to be implemented in five locations and, in making the site selections, the Secretary would be required to give special consideration to rural areas, areas with high proportions of minority groups, areas with high proportions of individuals who have limited access to health care, and areas that are not in close proximity to an active duty military station. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision, but would give VA 180 days to implement the pilot program. Specialized Residential Care and Rehabilitation for Certain Veterans (section 507) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 509) that would authorize VA to contract for specialized residential care and rehabilitation services for certain veterans. Eligible veterans would be those who served in OEF or OIF, suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and possess an accumulation of deficits in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living that would otherwise require admission to a nursing home. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Expanded Study on the Health Impact of Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense (section 508) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 510) that would require VA to contract with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to study the health impact of veterans' participation in Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD). The study would be intended to cover, to the extent practicable, all veterans who participated in Project SHAD and may utilize results from the study included in IOM's report on ``Long-Term Health Effects of Participation in Project SHAD.'' There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Use of Non-Department Facilities for Rehabilitation of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (section 509) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 511) that would clarify when non-VA facilities may be utilized to provide treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans and members of the Armed Forces with TBI. Specifically, the provision would allow non-VA facilities to be used when VA cannot provide treatment or services at the frequency or duration required by the individual plan of the veteran or servicemember with TBI. The provision also would allow the use of non-VA facilities if VA determines that it is optimal for the recovery and rehabilitation of the veteran or servicemember. Such non-VA facility would be required to maintain standards that have been established by an independent, peer-reviewed organization that accredits specialized rehabilitation programs for adults with TBI. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Pilot Program on Provision of Dental Insurance Plans to Veterans and Survivors and Dependents of Veterans (section 510) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 513) that would require VA to carry out a three-year pilot program to provide specified dental services through a contract with a dental insurer. Additionally, the provision would provide that the pilot program should take place in at least two but no more than four VISNs and that enrollment would be voluntary. The program would provide diagnostic services, preventive services, endodontic and other restorative services, surgical services, emergency services, and such other services as VA considers appropriate. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision, modified to provide that the pilot program may take place in any number of VISNs the Secretary deems appropriate. The purpose of providing the Secretary with this authority is to ensure the capability, should it be required, to maximize the number of voluntary enrollees insured under the dental program so as to reduce premium expenditures. Prohibition on Collection of Copayments from Veterans who are Catastrophically Disabled (section 511) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 515) that would add a new section 1730A in title 38, United States Code, to prohibit VA from collecting copayments from catastrophically disabled veterans for medical services rendered, including prescription drug and nursing home care copayments. H.R. 3219 contains the same provision (section 203). The Compromise Agreement contains this provision. Higher Priority Status for Certain Veterans who are Medal of Honor Recipients (section 512) H.R. 3519 contains a provision (section 201) that would amend section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, to place Medal of Honor recipients in priority group 3 for the purposes of receiving health care through VA. This would situate Medal of Honor recipients in a priority group with former prisoners of war and Purple Heart recipients. The Senate bill contains no comparable provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Hospital Care, Medical Services, and Nursing Home Care for Certain Vietnam-Era Veterans Exposed to Herbicide and Veterans of the Persian Gulf War (section 513) H.R. 3219 contains a provision (section 202) that would amend section 1710 of title 38, United States Code, to provide permanent authorization for the special treatment authority of Vietnam-era veterans exposed to an herbicide and Gulf-War era veterans who have insufficient medical evidence to establish a service-connected disability. The Senate bill contains no comparable provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Establishment of Director of Physician Assistant Services in Veterans Health Administration (section 514) H.R. 3219 contains a provision (section 204) that would create the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services in VA central office who would report directly to the Under Secretary for Health on all matters related to education, training, employment, and proper utilization of physician assistants. The Senate bill contains no comparable provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision, modified to require the Director of Physician Assistant Services to report directly to the Chief of the Office of Patient Services instead of to the Under Secretary for Health. Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (section 515) H.R. 3219 contains a provision (section 205) that would require VA to establish a Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury. This Committee would be required to evaluate VA's capacity to meet the treatment and rehabilitative needs of veterans with TBI, as well as make recommendations and advise the Under Secretary for Health on matters relating to this condition. Additionally, VA would be required to submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives an annual report on the Committee's findings and recommendations and the Department's response. The Senate bill contains no comparable provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Increase in Amount Available to Disabled Veterans for Improvements and Structural Alterations Furnished as Part of Home Health Services (section 516) H.R. 1293 contains a provision that would increase, from $4,100 to $6,800, the amount authorized to be paid to veterans who have service-connected disabilities rated 50 percent or more disabling for home improvements and structural alterations. The provision would also increase from $1,200 to $2,000, the amount authorized to be paid to veterans with service-connected disabilities rated less than 50 percent disabling. The Senate bill contains no comparable provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Extension of Statutorily Defined Copayments for Certain Veterans for Hospital Care and Nursing Home Care (section 517) Under current law, VA has the authority to provide hospital and nursing home care on a space available basis to veterans who do not otherwise qualify for such care. VA is authorized to collect from such a veteran an amount equal to $10 for every day that a veteran receives hospital care, and $5 for every day a veteran receives nursing home care. This authority expires on September 30, 2010. Neither the House nor Senate bills contain a provision to extend this authority. The Compromise Agreement contains a provision which would extend the statutorily defined copayments for certain veterans for hospital care and nursing home care to September 30, 2012. Extension of Authority to Recover Cost of Certain Care and Services from Disabled Veterans with Health-Plan Contracts (section 518) Under current law, VA is authorized to recover the costs associated with medical care provided to a veteran for a non- service-connected disability if, among other eligibility criteria, the veteran receives such care before October 1, 2010, the veteran has a service-connected disability, and the veteran is entitled to benefits for health care under a health-plan contract. Neither the House nor Senate bills contain a provision to extend this authority. The Compromise Agreement contains a provision which would extend the authority to recover the cost of such care and services from disabled veterans with health-plan contracts to October 1, 2012. Title VI--Department Personnel Matters Enhancement of Authorities for Retention of Medical Professionals (section 601) The Senate bill contains provisions (section 601) intended to improve VA's ability to recruit and retain health professionals. First, VA would be given the authority to apply the title 38 hybrid employment system to additional health care occupations to meet the recruitment and retention needs of VA. Next, the probationary period for full-time and part-time registered nurses would be set at two years; part- time registered nurses who served previously on a full-time basis would not be subject to a probationary period. In addition, VA would be authorized to waive the salary offset where the salary of an employee rehired after retirement from the Veterans Health Administration is reduced according to the amount of their annuity under a federal government retirement system. Section 601 also would provide for a number of new or expanded pay authorities, including setting the pay for all senior executives in the Office of the Under Secretary for Health at Level II or Level III of the Executive Schedule; authorizing recruitment and retention special incentive pay for pharmacist executives of up to $40,000; amending the pay provisions of physicians and dentists by clarifying the determination of the non-foreign cost of living adjustment, exempting physicians and dentists in executive leadership positions from compensation panels, and allowing for a reduction in market pay for changes in board certification or a reduction of privileges; modifying the pay cap for registered nurses and other covered positions to Level IV of the Executive Schedule; allowing the pay for certified registered nurse anesthetists to exceed the pay caps for registered nurses; increasing the limitation on special pay for nurse executives from $25,000 to $100,000; adding licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and nursing positions covered by title 5 to the list of occupations that are exempt from the limitations on increases in rates of basic pay; and expanding the eligibility for additional premium pay to part-time nurses. Finally, section 601 would improve VA's locality pay system by requiring VA to provide education, training, and support to the directors of VA health care facilities on the use of locality pay system surveys. H.R. 919 contains a comparable provision (section 2) which would not, in contrast to the Senate bill, restrict VA from applying hybrid title 38 status to positions that are administrative, clerical or physical plant maintenance and protective services, would otherwise be included under the authority of section 5332 of title 5, United States Code; do not provide direct patient care services, or would otherwise be available to provide medical care and treatment for veterans. The House provision also would not place restrictions on the categories of part- time nurses for whom the probationary period would be waived. The House section contains an additional provision which would provide comparability pay up to $100,000 per year to all individuals appointed by the Under Secretary for Health under the authority of section 7306 of title 38, United States Code, who are not physicians or dentists and who would be compensated at a higher rate in the private sector. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision, modified to eliminate the provision of the Senate bill that would provide VA with the authority to waive salary offsets for retirees who are reemployed in the Veterans Health Administration. Limitations on Overtime Duty, Weekend Duty, and Alternative Work Schedules for Nurses (section 602) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 602) that would prohibit VA from requiring nurses to work more than 40 hours in an administrative work week or more than 8 hours consecutively, except under unanticipated emergency conditions in which the nurses' skills are necessary and good faith efforts to find voluntary replacements have failed. The provision also would strike subsection 7456(c) of title 38, United States Code, which provides that nurses on approved sick or annual leave during a 12-hour work shift shall be charged at a rate of five hours of leave per three hours of absence. Finally, for recruitment and retention purposes, VA would be authorized to consider a nurse who has worked 6 regularly scheduled 12-hour work shifts within a 14-day period to have worked a full eighty-hour pay period. H.R. 919 contains the same provision (section 3). The Compromise Agreement contains this provision. Reauthorization of Health Professionals Educational Assistance Scholarship Program (section 603) H.R. 919 contains a provision (section 4) that would reinstate the Health Professionals Educational Assistance Scholarship Program. Section 2 of H.R. 4166 contains a similar provision which would also direct VA to fully employ program graduates as soon as possible following their graduation, require graduates to perform clinical rotations in assignments or locations determined by VA, and assign a mentor to graduates in the same facility in which they are serving. The Senate bill contains a similar provision but did not include the requirement to fully employ graduates as soon as possible. The Compromise Agreement contains the provision from section 2 of H.R. 4166. Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Researchers from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (section 604) H.R. 919 (section 4) and H.R. 4166 (section 4) contain identical provisions that would allow VA to utilize the authorities available in the Public Health Service Act for the repayment of the principal and interest of educational loans of health professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to employ such professionals in the Veterans Health Administration to conduct clinical research. The Senate bill contains the same provision (section 603). The Compromise Agreement contains this provision. Title VII--Homeless Veterans Matters Per Diem Grant Payments (section 701) H.R. 3796 contains a provision that would authorize VA to make per diem payments to organizations assisting homeless veterans in an amount equal to the greater of the daily cost of care or $60 per bed, per day. The provision would also require VA to ensure that 25 percent of the funds available for per diem payments are distributed to organizations that meet some but not all of the criteria for the receipt of per diem payments. These would include (in order of priority) organizations that meet each of the transitional and supportive services criteria and serve a population that is less than 75 percent veterans; organizations that meet at least one but not all of the transitional and supportive services criteria, but have a population that is at least 75 percent veterans; or organizations that meet at least one but not all of the transitional and supportive services criteria and serve a population that is less than 75 percent veterans. The Senate bill contains no comparable provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision, but does not require the minimum amount of $60 per bed, per day for the Grant and Per Diem program. In addition, VA would be authorized but not required to award the per diem grants to non-profit organizations meeting some but not all of the criteria for the receipt of such payments. Title VIII--Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations General Authorities on Establishment of Corporations (section 801) H.R. 2770 contains a provision (section 2) that would authorize Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations (NPCs) to merge, thereby creating multi-medical center research corporations. The Senate bill contains the same provision (section 801). The Compromise Agreement contains this provision. Clarification of Purposes of Corporations (section 802) H.R. 2770 contains a provision (section 3) that would clarify the purpose of NPCs to include specific reference to their role as funding mechanisms for approved research and education, in addition to their role in facilitating research and education. The Senate bill contains the same provision (section 802). The Compromise Agreement contains this provision. Modification of Requirements for Boards of Directors of Corporations (section 803) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 803) that would require that a minimum of two members of the Board of Directors of an NPC be other-than-federal employees. Additionally, the provision would allow for the appointment of individuals with expertise in legal, financial, or business matters. The provision also would conform the law relating to NPCs to other federal conflict of interest regulations by removing the requirement that members of the NPC boards have no financial relationship with any entity that is a source of funding for research or education by VA. H.R. 2770 contains a comparable provision (section 4), but provides that the executive director of the corporation may be a VA employee. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision, with a modification which removes the provision allowing VA employees to serve as executive directors. Clarification of Powers of Corporations (section 804) H.R. 2770 contains a provision (section 5) that would clarify the NPCs' authority to accept, administer, and transfer funds for various purposes. NPCs would be allowed to enter into contracts and set fees for the education and training facilitated through the corporation. The Senate bill contains the same provision (section 804). The Compromise Agreement contains this provision. Redesignation of Section 7364A of Title 38, United States Code (section 805) H.R. 2770 contains a provision (section 6) that would provide clerical amendments associated with implementing this legislation concerning Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations. The Senate bill contains the same provision (section 805). The Compromise Agreement contains this provision. Improved Accountability and Oversight of Corporations (section 806) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 806) that would strengthen VA's oversight of NPCs by requiring those NPCs with revenues of over $10,000 to obtain an independent audit once every three years, or with revenues of over $300,000 to obtain such an audit each year, and to submit certain Internal Revenue Service forms. H.R. 2770 contains a comparable provision (section 7), but would instead raise to $100,000 the threshold for requiring three-year audits and to $500,000 the revenue threshold that would require yearly audits. The provision also would revise conflict of interest policies to apply to the policies adopted by the corporation. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Title IX--Construction and Naming Matters Authorization of Medical Facility Projects (section 901) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 901) that would authorize funds for the following major medical facility projects in FY 2010: Livermore, California; Walla Walla, Washington; Louisville, Kentucky; Dallas, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri; Denver, Colorado and Bay Pines, Florida. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision, but strikes the authorization for the construction project in Walla Walla, Washington, since authorization for this construction project was provided in Public Law 111-98, enacted on November 11, 2009. Designation of Merril Lundman Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Havre, Montana (section 902) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 903) that would name VA outpatient clinic in Havre, Montana, as the ``Merril Lundman Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.'' There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Designation of William C. Tallent Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Knoxville, Tennessee (section 903) In the House, H.R. 402 contains a provision that would name the VA outpatient clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee as the ``William C. Tallent Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.'' The Senate bill contains no comparable provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Designation of Max J. Beilke Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Alexandria, Minnesota (section 904) In the House, H.R. 3157 contains a provision that would name the VA outpatient clinic in Alexandria, Minnesota as the ``Max J. Beilke Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.'' The Senate bill contains no comparable provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the House provision. Title X--Other Matters Expansion of Authority for Department of Veterans Affairs Police Officers (section 1001) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 1001) that would provide additional authorities to VA uniformed police officers, including the authority to carry a VA-issued weapon in an official capacity when off VA property and in official travel status, the authority to conduct investigations on and off VA property of offenses that may have been committed on VA property, expanded authority to enforce local and State traffic regulations when such authority has been granted by local or State law, and to make arrests based upon an arrest warrant issued by any competent judicial authority. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Uniform Allowance for Department of Veterans Affairs Police Officers (section 1002) The Senate bill contains a provision (section 1002) that would modify VA's authority to pay an allowance to VA police officers for purchasing uniforms. The provision would provide a uniform allowance in an amount which is the lesser of the amount prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management or the actual or estimated cost as determined by periodic surveys conducted by VA. There was no comparable House provision. The Compromise Agreement contains the Senate provision. Submission of Reports to Congress by Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Electronic Form (section 1003) Under current law, there is no requirement for VA to submit Congressionally mandated reports in an electronic form. Neither the House nor Senate bills contained a provision to change this procedure. The Compromise Agreement contains a provision which would create a new section 118 in title 38, United States Code, which would require VA to submit reports to Congress, or any Committee thereof, in electronic format. Reports would be defined to include any certification, notification, or other communication in writing. Determination of Budgetary Effects for Purposes of Compliance with Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010 (section 1004) Neither the Senate nor House bills contain a provision relating to compliance with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, Title I of P.L. 111-139, 124 Stat. 8. The Compromise Agreement contains a procedural provision to require the determination of the budgetary effects of provisions contained in the Compromise Agreement to be based upon the statement entered into the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, one of the great provisions of this bill is an incentive program to get doctors in certain specialties into the VA. The author of that scholarship program is Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, and I would recognize her for 1 minute.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on March 17, 2010, Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, were joined by 10 of their colleagues, including three from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a briefing to announce the support by a bi-partisan House majority for the humanitarian rights and protection of residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq. In his remarks, Filner announced that following last July's deadly assault by the Iraqi security forces against unarmed residents of Camp Ashraf, home to 3,400 members of Iran's main opposition, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), he introduced a resolution (H. Res. 704) which ``deplores the ongoing violence by Iraqi security forces against the residents of Camp Ashraf; calls upon the Iraqi Government to live up to its commitment to the United States to ensure the continued well-being of those living in Camp Ashraf; and calls upon the President to take all necessary and appropriate steps to support the commitments of the United States'' to ensure protection of Camp Ashraf residents. The majority of the members of the House of Representatives who have co-sponsored the resolution include 11 Committee Chairs; 13 Committee Ranking Members; 54 Sub-Committee Chairs; 49 Sub-Committee Ranking Members; and 30 House Foreign Affairs Committee members. Ros-Lehtinen stressed that in light of repeated breach of guaranties provided by the Iraqi Government to the United States that residents of Camp Ashraf would be treated humanely, ``the U.S. is obligated to take all necessary and appropriate steps to uphold our commitments.'' The Florida lawmaker added that ``we must send a clear message to the residents of Camp Ashraf that the U.S. Congress stands with them.'' Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, lauded the bi-partisan nature of support for Camp Ashraf and said ``it's so important that we continue to work together . . . to bring about the change that is so needed today.'' Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Ranking Member of House International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight Subcommittee, remarked that ``we must make sure that anyone who is fighting the mullah regime and would replace it with a democratic government is an ally of the people of the United States and we should not allow them to suffer negative consequences if we can prevent it. That is especially true of the people of Camp Ashraf.'' Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade said: ``It is important that we constantly stay vigilant that we let the people in Camp Ashraf know that their silent voices are heard here in the United States . . . We are not going to stand idly by while those who wish to do harm to the residents of Camp Ashraf mend, weave their wicked ways and they will not be dispersed into parts and regions unknown to the rest of us.'' Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) described the Iranian regime as ``regime of thugs,'' and added ``this is most impressive to have the majority of the U.S Congress of one mind with regard to a critical issue and the travesty the brutality that was engaged against the innocent people in Ashraf. And so we will get this to the floor and we will pass it and we will stay on this issue.'' Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) described the attack on Ashraf as ``a cold-blooded murder'' and emphasized that the only way that they ``could ever be totally safe is by having a free homeland.'' Filner added that ``the administration should encourage the United Nations to play a much more active role insofar as it concerns Camp Ashraf and strengthen the role of a U.N. monitoring team in Ashraf to one of protecting the residents to ensure that their rights and safety are respected and all the inhumane restrictions placed on them by the Iraqi government are lifted.'' Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, also addressed the briefing via video from Paris. She emphasized that the House majority support for Ashraf indicates its recognition of the Iranian Resistance, especially Ashraf, as ``a decisive factor in confronting this antihuman regime'' in Tehran. Addressing the co-sponsors of the resolution, Mrs. Rajavi remarked that ``While appreciating your efforts, I would like to ask you to continue your noble and humanitarian work in order to ensure that: The protection of the residents of Ashraf is guaranteed as long as the U.S. forces remain in Iraq; Mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq is expanded to guarantee the rights of Ashraf residents. The United Nations assumes the protection of Ashraf and a U.N. peacekeeping force is stationed at Ashraf; all restrictions and the blockade imposed by the Iraqi government against Ashraf in the past 14 months are lifted.'' Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) of the Judiciary Committee told the reception that ``I was happy to support House Resolution 704. Certainly there needed to be protection for the people in Camp Ashraf. We should make sure that they continue to be safe. The United States and the Iraqi government should ensure that these residents have all security that they need. And so we must continue the pressure to make sure that happens so that the pro-democracy movement can continue to be safe and the Iranian people can be safe. So let us continue our relationship. I'm very, very happy to see that you are here on the Hill and that you're presenting your issues to us.'' Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ), member of the Armed Services Committee, told the gathering that ``We see some of the people of Camp Ashraf in Iraq that are being persecuted and threatened and even the Iranian government wants to see them repatriated to Iran and I think that represents a great danger to them and I want you to know that there are a lot of us that reject that completely. We want to see both the Government of Iraq and the Government of the United States stand up and make sure that we protect these people in Camp Ashraf.'' In his remarks, Congressman Al Green (D-TX) from the Homeland Security Committee told the reception that ``Doctor King was right when he said decades ago--and his words ring true today--`Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere'. Injustice in the streets of Iran is a threat to justice in the streets of every nation on the planet Earth and we must end injustice in the streets of Iran . . . We must support the human rights movement that is taking place in Iran.''

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I think it was most appropriate that the manager on the Republican side was our House optometrist, Mr. Boozman. So thank you for your expertise that you always give us on the committee. I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H.R. 4360.

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

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. FILNER. Madam 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. 4360.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4360) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, as the ``Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center''.

Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to offer my support for H.R. 4360, a bill to name the VA Blind Rehabilitation Center in Long Beach, California, after the distinguished Iraq veteran Charles R. Soltes. Mr. Soltes valiantly served his country in the United States Army as a major in the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion in Mosul, Iraq. He died on October 13, 2004, from wounds sustained in a blast conducting a combat patrol in Mosul. He was only 36 years old. Major Soltes was a graduate of the New England College of Optometry and later completed his residency at Brooke Army Medical Center that focused on ocular trauma, acute eye conditions, medical contact lens applications, and glaucoma care. At West Point, he served as director of the optometry residency program. In 1998, Major Soltes became clinical director of the Irvin Vision Institute, a refractive surgery specialty center where he served until his voluntary deployment in Iraq. He was the first military optometrist to be killed in action while serving as a public health officer in Iraq. He leaves behind a wife and three young children. Also an optometrist, Major Soltes' wife, Dr. Sally Houng Dang, currently treats blinded veterans as a way to honor her husband. Naming a VA facility after this hero and a strong veterans advocate is a proper honor for an honorable soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his Nation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. My Republican friends need to chill out. The previous speaker said this is a government takeover of a health care system. Come on. Let it go. We've got a private system here. We've got a private system of insurance. We've got private hospitals, we've got private doctors. This system is a private system. What government takeover is there? She keeps talking about a government bureaucrat getting between you and your doctor. What we have now is an insurance bureaucrat between us and our health providers. What we do is remove that. And if you want to repeal this bill, make my day. Try to repeal it. Repeal the fact that small businesses are going to get tax credits right away. Repeal the fact that our children, who have preexisting conditions, will be able to be insured right away. Repeal the fact that we won't have any more preexisting conditions to prevent health insurance. Make my day.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. FILNER. And as I close, Madam Speaker, I would ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material, both on the previous bill, H.R. 4667, and the current bill, H.R. 4592, as amended.

Mr. FILNER. I would urge my colleagues to support this bill. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Thank you, Congressman Teague, for your strong advocacy on behalf of our veterans. This innovative and competitive idea will ensure that our returning veterans have the employment opportunities they require to make the difficult transition into the civilian workforce, while also addressing America's need for energy independence. Madam Speaker, Congress must act to ensure our returning veterans have employment opportunities as they strive to reintegrate into the civilian workforce. This bill would help do just that. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released survey data showing unsettling numbers on the employment rates of newly returning veterans. Last year, the unemployment rate for our Iraqi and Afghanistan veterans was over 10 percent. Even more disturbing were figures showing that the jobless rate of younger veterans exceeded 20 percent. Congressman Harry Teague, a first-term member of our committee from New Mexico, proposed an innovative way to provide training for veterans in the energy industry. He introduced this act, H.R. 4592, the Energy Jobs for Veterans Act. I would yield to Mr. Teague for further explanation of the bill.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4592) to provide for the establishment of a pilot program to encourage the employment of veterans in energy-related positions, as amended.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and am prepared to close.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. FILNER. I urge my colleagues to support the COLA bill, H.R. 4667. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4667) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2010, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of this bill which ensures that hard-earned benefits for disabled veterans and their surviving family members keep pace with their living expenses. This bill, like the last, was introduced by Mr. Perriello of Virginia. It will benefit each disabled veteran or survivor from the World War I era through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. I yield to the hardworking, active, and committed Mr. Perriello for an explanation of the bill.

Mr. FILNER. Thank you, Mr. Perriello, and again I want to thank you for your service to our Nation's veterans. I reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, just like our military men and women did not hesitate to offer to lay down their lives to defend our freedom and the way of life that we cherish, we will not hesitate to defend the funds necessary to support themselves and their families. General Leave