Bob Filner

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007. I was glad to be able to work with my colleagues on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, on both sides of the aisle and in both Houses, to get here. I want to thank Mr. Rangel and his staff for their guidance on the provision that fell under the jurisdiction of the Ways and Means Committee. I especially want to thank our colleague from Madison, Wisconsin, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, who led the effort for this, who got it to the floor today and who will explain it in whatever detail she thinks is important. I note that this bill was previously introduced in the last Congress; however, it never became law. I am glad this Congress has the opportunity to do more for our blind and vision impaired veterans. The Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007, named after a noted physician and ocular pioneer who worked for over 35 years in the VA, would allow veterans who receive veterans' disability compensation for impairment of vision in one eye to be eligible to receive additional disability compensation for impairment of vision in the eye that is not service-connected, where the impairment in each eye is to a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or of a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less (the definition of ``legal blindness'' adopted by all 50 states and the Social Security Administration.) H.R. 797 also directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to match and compare VA needs- based pension benefits data, parents' dependency and indemnity compensation data, health-care services data, and unemployability compensation data with the National Directory of New Hires maintained by DHHS, for the purpose of determining eligibility for such benefits and services. It would also authorize $5 million for establishing, improving and expanding for the operation and maintenance of state-owned veterans' cemeteries. Additionally, the bill will repeal the time limitation for States to file for reimbursement costs for interring unclaimed veterans' remains, making it retroactive to October 1, 2006. Finally, this measure extends the authorization of the veterans work study program until 2010. This bill affects an estimated 5 percent of the 13,109 veterans who have service-connected blindness or loss of vision in one eye. As of September 17, 2007, 1,129 service members have sustained serious eye wounds in combat according to the Defense Armed Forces Institute of Surgical Pathology (any of which may later lead to blindness). Also, it is reported that many of the over 4,400 traumatic brain- injured OIF/OEF servicemembers will likely suffer from serious vision- related complications and at least 57 percent of all eye injuries of this war are caused by lED explosions. Walter Reed Army Medical Center alone has treated close to 540 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom service members for visual injuries and over 230 of our soldiers unfortunately have sustained legal blindness in one eye. It is worth noting, that in 2002, Congress passed and the President signed Public Law 107-330, which included a provision to correct a similar deficiency in the Paired Organ law for hearing loss. In 2006, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a legislative hearing and received favorable testimony on H.R. 2963, a bill similar to H.R. 797. In that hearing, the VA supported H.R. 2963. This is important and meaningful legislation for our men and women in uniform--who have fought and are fighting for our country. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this resolution and urge swift consideration of the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007 by the Senate before the end of this session of Congress. Mr. Speaker, I yield whatever time she may consume to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin).

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 855) providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 797, with amendments.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, at this time I will include in the Record an article published in the Ophthalmic News on protective eye gear, and I urge my colleagues to unanimously support this resolution. [From Ophthalmology Times, May 1, 2007] Protective Eye Gear Essential for Modern Soldier: Ocular Injuries Have Climbed to Number 4 Slot Behind Amputation, Traumatic Brain Injury,

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 855.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on Monday, December 10, the United States joins the world in celebration of Human Rights Day, remembering the historic occasion when the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document affirms the elementary rights that belong to all humankind. Nearly six decades after the adoption of this critical Declaration, and 46 years after I joined the first Freedom Rides to uphold civil and human rights for all citizens of the United States, there are still many people around the globe struggling to gain the rights that we as Americans hold dear. The plight of one man, Ayman Nour, is emblematic of the myriad injustices that continue to afflict our fellow citizens of the world today. Nour, a parliamentarian and a leading voice for democracy in Egypt, was arrested and jailed in 2005 after his candidacy in the country's first open presidential election. He was charged with forgery, but his imprisonment is widely understood as a political move by the Egyptian government to crack down on the opposition. The illegitimate nature of the charges against him, along with Nour's serious health concerns, including heart problems and diabetes, are grounds for his immediate release. This week, however, Nour enters the third year of his 5-year sentence with little reason for optimism. His latest appeal was rejected earlier this year after the state-sponsored Egyptian media launched a smear campaign against him. Nour is not the only victim of this crackdown. Judges, journalists, ethnic and religious minorities, civil society and human rights activists, and everyday citizens have all been targeted. Nour and countless others fighting for their fundamental freedoms continue to look to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as an ideal, not as a reality. For the millions who have suffered greatly, Nour's release would symbolize a recommitment to the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as cited in the Declaration's Preamble. On this Human Rights Day, in the spirit of cooperation between nations, I urge the Egyptian government to release Ayman Nour, and to uphold its stated commitment to civil and human rights.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. I thank the gentlelady, and I thank you for your leadership, which has come very early in your congressional career. It's nice to be here. Thank you for allowing a Congressman from San Diego to join you in this celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Port of Los Angeles. As a representative of San Diego, there are a lot of things we don't want to imitate about Los Angeles, but we look with envy at the economic engine that the Port of Los Angeles represents. It is truly, and I say this with some envy, Southern California's gateway to international commerce, maintaining its competitive edge with record- setting cargo operations, groundbreaking environmental issues, progressive security measures, and diverse recreational and educational facilities. The port's economic contributions are far-reaching. The port is connected directly and indirectly with tens of billions of dollars in industry sales each year in the Southern California region and in the Nation, translating into hundreds of thousands of local jobs and billions of dollars in wages, salaries and State and local taxes. One out of every 24 jobs in Southern California is generated by the port. That's almost 260,000. One out of every $23 paid in wages and salaries, almost $9 billion, comes from the Port of Los Angeles. Almost 1\1/2\ million jobs are generated nationwide, and the port generates almost $1.5 billion in State and local taxes. So this economic engine is far-reaching. We marvel at what you have produced there. We hope to take away sometime some of the congestion that the previous gentleman talked about by expanding our Port of San Diego, but we look at you again for a model of how to do these things. At least one business in every congressional district in this Nation imports or exports goods through the Los Angeles port complex. It is truly America's gateway, and we have an opportunity provided by you to recognize the 100th anniversary, and we hope there is unanimous support for your resolution.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention H.R. 4254, the Fair Taxes for Seniors Act, a bill I have just introduced that would provide financial relief to our Nation's senior citizens. The Fair Taxes for Seniors Act would provide a one-time increase in the capital gains tax exemption on the sale of a home for citizens who are 50 or older. While home prices have decreased from their all-time high, the tax burden is still there for senior citizens who have lived in their home for many years. Passing this bill would give many seniors the additional money they need for nursing home care, medical costs, and other retirement expenses. The current capital gains tax exemption works well for younger people who often move from job to job, selling their homes. The current exemption works well for people who live in areas where housing prices are below average. But it is not working for individuals who have lived in one home for 20 to 50 years and have a capital gain that is much larger than the present exemption. In other words, it is not working for seniors who live in areas with higher housing prices who end up paying thousands in capital gains taxes. My bill would provide a one-time increase to $500,000 for a single person and $1 million for a couple in the amount that can be excluded from the sale of a principal residence for taxpayers who have reached the age of 50. Let us help our citizens over age 50 who have lived in one home for many years and who need the proceeds from the sale of their home for retirement and health care costs. An added benefit is that family members and perhaps the government will be relieved of the burden of caring for these individuals as they grow older. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I would like to call your attention to H.R. 4255, the ``United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Paralympic Program Act of 2007.'' This legislation authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide grants to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to plan, develop, manage, and implement a Paralympic Program for disabled veterans and servicemembers. Paralympics, sports for the physically disabled, traces its origins to World War II when the paralympic movement began to offer sports as a form of rehabilitation for the injured veterans of that era. Paralympic activity has a proven track record in terms of rehabilitation and improving the quality of life for the physically disabled. Paralympics also improves the mobility, vitality, physical, psychological, and social well-being of disabled veterans while reducing their incidence of secondary medical conditions. It is particularly important that the thousands of injured military and veterans returning to the United States after service in Iraq and Afghanistan be afforded the chance to participate in such paralympic activities as part of their rehabilitation, both while on active duty and when, as veterans, they return to their home communities. The United States Olympic Committee is particularly well-suited to plan and institute a Paralympic Program for our military and veterans. In 1998, Congress passed the ``Olympic and Amateur Sports Act Amendments,'' which charged the USOC with the responsibility of encouraging and assisting amateur athletic programs and competitions for athletes with disabilities. Since that time, the USOC has led a resurgence in paralympic sports in the United States. When our injured servicemembers began returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the USOC began offering Paralympic Military Sports Camps at its training facilities, including at the USOC training facility in my district in Chula Vista, California. To date, over 1,200 injured veterans have been introduced to paralympic sports as a result of these training camps. The USOC has spent millions of dollars on this military and veteran Paralympics Program and will continue to support these efforts. However, with so many injured military and veterans, much more needs to be done. The paralympic sports camps of the USOC last for a week at a time. The USOC is also beginning an effort to bring paralympic sports to various locations throughout the country. It is imperative that we expand these efforts so that once our injured military personnel graduate to veteran status, they will be able to participate year round in their own communities in paralympic activities as part of their continuing rehabilitation. Under this program, the USOC will develop community-based Paralympic Programs that provide services and activities for disabled veterans and servicemembers. These activities will include instruction and competition in paralympic sports, training and technical assistance and other program-specific medical and personal care support activities necessary to create a network of community-based Paralympic Programs easily accessible to our injured veterans. This legislation also requires the Secretary to conduct an outreach program to inform all disabled veterans about the existence of the Paralympic Program and to encourage their participation. Although non- veterans may participate in these community-based programs, the funds authorized by this legislation can only be used to support activities and services for disabled veterans and servicemembers. The purpose of this program is to enhance the rehabilitation, readiness, and quality of life of severely injured servicemembers and veterans. There is great urgency to implement this expanded program as quickly as possible in order to motivate, teach, and inspire veterans at all stages of recovery and to return them to a lifestyle full of activity, accomplishment, and enjoyment in their own communities. I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation. We owe it to those who have given their all for their country.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation intended to simplify the charitable giving rules for automobile donations, H.R. 4090. As you know, in 2004, Congress enacted legislation that imposed new reporting requirements on individuals and charities for automobile donations. This legislation has had the unintended consequence of reducing the number of automobiles donated to charities in my district. The corresponding loss in revenue and reduction in services offered by these charities has hurt the San Diego region. To correct this situation, my bill will exempt certain charities from the reporting requirements of the 2004 law. My bill is targeted only to those charities that operate ``in-house'' vehicle donation programs and that retain at least 80 percent of the proceeds from their vehicle donation programs. I invite my colleagues to join me as cosponsors of this legislation to simplify the vehicle donation process for charitable organizations across the United States.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield such time as he may consume to the author of this resolution, a man who fights for veterans in his district and around the Nation, Mr. Pallone from New Jersey.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, again I want to thank Mr. Pallone for authoring this resolution. I know many of us who give speeches on Memorial Day and on Veterans Day note always that there are not many youth in the audience. And to bring these stories to our students, to our youth, is extremely important. I ask unanimous support of this resolution. General Leave

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, I am proud to bring to the floor another motion, another resolution, another action that will help us understand and better appreciate the contributions of our veterans from many wars. I want to thank Congressman Frank Pallone from New Jersey, who offers this resolution, and it will recognize our Nation's veterans for their sacrifice to our country. Currently, brave men and women who are fighting in missions throughout the world, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, do not have an exact avenue to let us know what has occurred or let us know how to appreciate or spread that appreciation to others in our society. This resolution will provide an avenue to educate our children about the sacrifice our servicemembers and their families are making. Veterans Educate Today's Students Day will designate November 10 as VETS Day that would call for teachers, civic leaders, and veterans to carry out programs to educate children about the service of our Nation's veterans and their sacrifice. VETS Day is a day students can be taught to appreciate that because of our Nation's veterans we are able to enjoy the many freedoms that we take for granted. VETS Day should be the day we highlight veterans' service, American freedoms and pass on to our children our American ideals. This is why I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of H. Con. Res. 60. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I would also ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in way to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 60.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 60) expressing support for the goals of Veterans Educate Today's Students (VETS) Day, and for other purposes.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this war in Iraq has involved our National Guard and Reserve units to an extent that has never before been the case. And many of our laws simply do not reflect the new force structure that you see in Iraq. And that is what we, as a committee, are working to change. For example, the National Guard and Reserve units, even if they are in active duty, as they are in Iraq, are not eligible for the same benefits from the GI Bill as our active duty troops. We are going to change that. We are going to change a number of things. And I thank Mr. Brady, the gentleman from Philadelphia, for making sure that the Guard and Reserve groups have the protections in law that our active duty troops already have. We must protect their jobs, their credit ratings, and their quality of life as they are away from home in active duty supporting our Nation. The laws have not kept up with this force structure. This is one of the ways that we're going to change that. So we're going to make sure that when they come home, they are recognized and not penalized for their active duty.

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

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 513, as amended.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the author of this legislation, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter), who will speak on his resolution in a few minutes. I want to point out that Abraham Lincoln, during his address at Gettysburg, said that ``the world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.'' In that spirit, and to make sure that people will long remember what was done, Congress created the Veterans History Project in the year 2000 with unanimous support from this body. The Project directed the Library of Congress to establish a national archives for the collection and preservation of videotaped oral histories of our veterans, as well as the copying of letters written during their time of service and diaries they kept. So there is a national repository of this very important part of our Nation's history. This worthwhile investment of time and resources is a gift that can be given for generations and centuries to come. The goal of the project is to capture the personal stories of our Nation's heroes so our children and their children can more fully understand the history of this century. For a lot of reasons, we find that our Nation's heroes, when they come back from combat, do not even let their families know exactly what happened. They feel like they were just doing their job or don't want to bring up some memories, and so those stories will go with them to their grave. But with this project, we can tap into the stories of more than 24 million veterans who are still alive today, including 3 million from World War II, who are leaving us at the rate of more than 1,000 per day. It is important that these stories are told, and more important that these stories are told from the mouths of those that were on the front lines and participated firsthand as history was made. This oral history project requires the cooperation of volunteers across the country to get not only the veterans to come forward to offer their stories, but also the family members and friends to capture their accounts. So, H. Res. 770 calls on the people of the United States to interview at least one veteran in their families or communities according to guidelines provided by the Veterans History Project. It also encourages local, State and national organizations to participate in support of the effort to document, preserve and honor the service of American wartime heroes. As chairman of the Veterans' Committee in the House of Representatives, I have had the opportunity and the honor to hear the many accounts from these veterans. I hear the sense of pride that comes along with the duty of defending this country. I know that my father served in World War II, but I never fully got the stories, I don't think, that he had in his memory, and I wish we had captured before he died. So, I encourage all Americans to reach out to their veterans, thank them and their families for their amazing sacrifice, learn more about their great contributions to our Nation, and gain the wisdom of their personal stories of our Nation's history. Each and every one of us should learn more about the American Folk Life Center at the Library of Congress because their staff is always glad to work with researchers and volunteers to expand their library of these stories. Volunteers and participants become historians themselves. They can collect audio and video recordings, create a collection of recordings to be available for public use, or collect written materials relevant to personal histories of war veterans. So, on this Veterans Day, let us, again, do more than just give speeches and ride in parades. Let's join and take the time to show the gratitude that we have to these veterans by asking them to relate their stories for the preservation of history. Mr. Speaker, I would reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 770) expressing support for designation of a National Veterans History Project Week to encourage public participation in a nationwide project that collects and preserves the stories of the men and women who served our nation in times of war and conflict.

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

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to speak about a bill that I have introduced to better the lives of our Nation's disabled veterans. H.R. 4071, the Disabled Veterans Right to Commissaries and Space Available Travel Act, will extend commissary and exchange store privileges to service-disabled veterans with a rating of 30 percent or more and to their families. Congress must do all we reasonably can for the men and women who have become disabled in their service to our Nation. Our disabled veterans are important members of the greater military family, and they should be treated as such with every available opportunity. This bill will also authorize transportation on military aircraft on a space-available basis to service-disabled veterans with a rating of 50 percent or more. Currently, members and retirees of the uniformed services and the reserves may travel free on Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft when space is available. This benefit is allowed when it does not interfere with military missions, and it recognizes that military careers are filled with rigorous duty. But present policies do not extend this benefit to our disabled veterans. What more rigorous duty can be imagined than to become disabled in the service of our country? Why has the DoD chosen not to recognize the brave men and women who sacrificed their health and well- being while serving in uniform? This DoD policy needs to be corrected. Space-available travel for these disabled veterans would cost the federal government nothing and would not interfere with active-duty personnel. Current military is always given priority, and H.R. 4071 would do nothing to change that. What my bill will do is allow seats that would otherwise go unused to be occupied by men and women who have been disabled when serving their Nation. This bill is the right step to take for our disabled veterans! They have sacrificed their health and well-being for their country, and they have earned the right to these privileges. Please support H.R. 4071 and work with me for its passage.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 744) recognizing the contributions of Native American veterans and calling upon the President to issue a proclamation urging the people of the United States to observe a day in honor of Native American veterans.