Bob Filner

Mr. FILNER

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.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act, H.R. 1017, as amended, which emphasizes the critical need for robust chiropractic services within the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the theater today, Madam Speaker, servicemembers may carry up to 55 pounds of combat equipment and armor. Consistently supporting such a heavy load places a serious strain on the backs and joints of our servicemembers, thereby causing musculoskeletal injuries. In fact, the VA reports that musculoskeletal disorders are the single most common ailment facing returning veterans. Among veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom who have received treatment from the VA, over 52 percent have been diagnosed with such a disorder; however, the VA is not presently equipped to serve this clear need. Current law specifies that the VA must have at least one chiropractic care program in each of the 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks, or VISNs. Today, in-house chiropractic care is available at just 32 major VA facilities. This leaves veterans living near the remaining 121 centers without access to chiropractic care at a VA facility. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1017 would make chiropractic care available to all veterans at all VA medical centers by phasing in the establishment of such chiropractic care programs. The VA would be required to offer chiropractic care at 75 medical centers by the end of 2011 and at all VA medical centers by the end of 2013. This bill provides an opportunity to significantly expand access to chiropractic care for one of the most prevalent disorders facing veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. I urge the support of my colleagues and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I just want to point out that we are approaching the Memorial Day recess. Probably all of us will be at veterans memorials and parades, saluting them on Memorial Day, and we will all say, of course, that we support our veterans. What we are doing today, as we have done throughout the year, is to say we have a series of bills that will in fact add to the benefits and the well-being of our veterans, and that is the best way to celebrate Memorial Day.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1017) to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, United States Code, to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand access to such care and services, as amended.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, again, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson), who put together this important resolution that we are considering. I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H. Con. Res. 278, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 278 is a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that a grateful Nation supports and salutes the Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th anniversary being held on Father's Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 278, a concurrent resolution expressing the Sense of Congress that a grateful Nation supports and salutes the Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th Anniversary being held on Father's Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. This is very important legislation that I would like to bring to your attention today. I want to recognize and applaud the outstanding efforts of the sponsor of this legislation, my colleague Representative Deborah Halvorson a stellar member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Sons and Daughters in Touch is a national organization consisting of 3,000 Americans whose fathers were killed or went missing during the Vietnam War. Throughout the Vietnam War 58,236 Americans were killed, 153,452 were wounded and 2,489 of these brave servicemen still remain missing. These numbers are mind-boggling and we owe it to these families to continue to support and recognize those that served and gave their lives to protect this Nation. It has been estimated that among the 58,236 Americans lost in Southeast Asia, that more than one-third were fathers. It has been noted that more than 20,000 American children were left fatherless during this time. This Father's Day weekend, Sons and Daughters in Touch will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Hundreds of sons and daughters who lost their fathers in the Vietnam War will join together on the Nation's Capitol to hold a series of remembrance ceremonies to continue the healing process for these families. The sponsor of this resolution is one of our new Members, Mrs. Halvorson of Illinois, who has taken such a very dynamic part in our deliberations on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman for an explanation of the bill.

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

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 278) expressing the sense of Congress that a grateful Nation supports and salutes Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th Anniversary that is being held on Father's Day, 2010, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, the District of Columbia.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 278) expressing the sense of Congress that a grateful Nation supports and salutes Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th Anniversary that is being held on Father's Day, 2010, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, the District of Columbia.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, again, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson), who put together this important resolution that we are considering. I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H. Con. Res. 278, and 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 yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 278 is a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that a grateful Nation supports and salutes the Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th anniversary being held on Father's Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 278, a concurrent resolution expressing the Sense of Congress that a grateful Nation supports and salutes the Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th Anniversary being held on Father's Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. This is very important legislation that I would like to bring to your attention today. I want to recognize and applaud the outstanding efforts of the sponsor of this legislation, my colleague Representative Deborah Halvorson a stellar member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Sons and Daughters in Touch is a national organization consisting of 3,000 Americans whose fathers were killed or went missing during the Vietnam War. Throughout the Vietnam War 58,236 Americans were killed, 153,452 were wounded and 2,489 of these brave servicemen still remain missing. These numbers are mind-boggling and we owe it to these families to continue to support and recognize those that served and gave their lives to protect this Nation. It has been estimated that among the 58,236 Americans lost in Southeast Asia, that more than one-third were fathers. It has been noted that more than 20,000 American children were left fatherless during this time. This Father's Day weekend, Sons and Daughters in Touch will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Hundreds of sons and daughters who lost their fathers in the Vietnam War will join together on the Nation's Capitol to hold a series of remembrance ceremonies to continue the healing process for these families. The sponsor of this resolution is one of our new Members, Mrs. Halvorson of Illinois, who has taken such a very dynamic part in our deliberations on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman for an explanation of the bill.

Mr. FILNER

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. 3885.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act, H.R. 1017, as amended, which emphasizes the critical need for robust chiropractic services within the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the theater today, Madam Speaker, servicemembers may carry up to 55 pounds of combat equipment and armor. Consistently supporting such a heavy load places a serious strain on the backs and joints of our servicemembers, thereby causing musculoskeletal injuries. In fact, the VA reports that musculoskeletal disorders are the single most common ailment facing returning veterans. Among veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom who have received treatment from the VA, over 52 percent have been diagnosed with such a disorder; however, the VA is not presently equipped to serve this clear need. Current law specifies that the VA must have at least one chiropractic care program in each of the 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks, or VISNs. Today, in-house chiropractic care is available at just 32 major VA facilities. This leaves veterans living near the remaining 121 centers without access to chiropractic care at a VA facility. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1017 would make chiropractic care available to all veterans at all VA medical centers by phasing in the establishment of such chiropractic care programs. The VA would be required to offer chiropractic care at 75 medical centers by the end of 2011 and at all VA medical centers by the end of 2013. This bill provides an opportunity to significantly expand access to chiropractic care for one of the most prevalent disorders facing veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. I urge the support of my colleagues and reserve 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.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I just want to point out that we are approaching the Memorial Day recess. Probably all of us will be at veterans memorials and parades, saluting them on Memorial Day, and we will all say, of course, that we support our veterans. What we are doing today, as we have done throughout the year, is to say we have a series of bills that will in fact add to the benefits and the well-being of our veterans, and that is the best way to celebrate Memorial Day.

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1017) to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, United States Code, to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand access to such care and services, as amended.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I do urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5145, as amended. Like the gentleman from Indiana, I understand the outrage and anger of the gentleman from Louisiana as we are facing probably the biggest environmental disaster of this century. And yet, Madam Speaker, I find it more than ironic, I find it irresponsible, that the very same people who say ``drill, baby, drill,'' the very same people who are always against government interference, the very same people who are always against Big Government, all of a sudden, when it is their district, they want Big Government, and they want regulation, and they want government to clean up the environmental disaster. Well, we all have to get in there, and BP had better recognize its corporate responsibility for this. But, Madam Speaker, these people always scream against Big Government, but they are the first who want Big Government to come in and save them. So, let us understand the irony and the irresponsibility of those who keep yelling against government regulation, and government interference, but when it affects their district, they want it. I ask for unanimous agreement on this measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5145, the Assuring Quality Care for Veterans Act. I thank my colleague from California (Mr. McNerney) for his diligent advocacy on behalf of our veterans. His talent and hard work have culminated in this important piece of legislation. Many key health care professionals require continuing professional education in order to maintain their licensure. Such education can be costly, and the VA has long reimbursed up to $1,000 annually to physicians and dentists. This reimbursement program has been an important part of the VA's efforts to recruit and to retain high- quality health care personnel. Moreover, it ensures that the VA employees are well-informed and knowledgeable about advances or new information in their chosen fields. Organizational efforts to improve access to knowledge and opportunities have been shown to improve job satisfaction. However, since its inception, this program has only been open to physicians and dentists. It unfairly excludes many key health care providers who face similar licensing requirements. This act would correct this inequity by expanding the program to such key health care personnel as nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists. This legislation would recognize that the maximum reimbursement rate of $1,000 is outdated, its having been unchanged for nearly two decades. H.R. 5145 would reflect inflationary increases since the last update by increasing the cap to $1,600 annually. Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this legislation. Not only does it recognize the hard work of health care providers in the VA system, but it also empowers the VA to hire and retain talented health care personnel and to offer them the tools they need to remain extremely skilled and knowledgeable. I would urge the support of all of my colleagues, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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 to include extraneous material on H.R. 5145, as amended.

Mr. FILNER

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 to include extraneous material on H.R. 5145, as amended.

Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5145, the Assuring Quality Care for Veterans Act. I thank my colleague from California (Mr. McNerney) for his diligent advocacy on behalf of our veterans. His talent and hard work have culminated in this important piece of legislation. Many key health care professionals require continuing professional education in order to maintain their licensure. Such education can be costly, and the VA has long reimbursed up to $1,000 annually to physicians and dentists. This reimbursement program has been an important part of the VA's efforts to recruit and to retain high- quality health care personnel. Moreover, it ensures that the VA employees are well-informed and knowledgeable about advances or new information in their chosen fields. Organizational efforts to improve access to knowledge and opportunities have been shown to improve job satisfaction. However, since its inception, this program has only been open to physicians and dentists. It unfairly excludes many key health care providers who face similar licensing requirements. This act would correct this inequity by expanding the program to such key health care personnel as nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists. This legislation would recognize that the maximum reimbursement rate of $1,000 is outdated, its having been unchanged for nearly two decades. H.R. 5145 would reflect inflationary increases since the last update by increasing the cap to $1,600 annually. Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this legislation. Not only does it recognize the hard work of health care providers in the VA system, but it also empowers the VA to hire and retain talented health care personnel and to offer them the tools they need to remain extremely skilled and knowledgeable. I would urge the support of all of my colleagues, and I reserve the balance of my time.