Phil Hare

Mr. HARE

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1332) recognizing the importance of connecting foster youth to the workforce through internship programs, and encouraging employers to increase employment of former foster youth.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1332 into the Record.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, again I just want to thank the author of this incredibly wonderful resolution, Representative Cardoza from California, and commend him for the hard work and dedication that he put into this effort. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HARE

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I urge that all my colleagues support this resolution for a wonderful basketball team, wonderful women, wonderful coaches and assistant coaches, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1151) congratulating the University of Tennessee women's basketball team for winning the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women's Basketball Championship.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1151 into the Record.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Tennessee women's basketball team for their victory in the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's basketball championship. On April 8, women's basketball fans were treated to an exceptional game as the University of Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Stanford University Cardinal and clinched their eighth national title. The resounding 64-48 defeat marks back-to-back national titles for the Lady Vols. I want to extend my congratulations to Head Coach Pat Summitt, Associate Head Coach Holly Warlick, and Assistant Coaches Dean Lockwood and Daedra Charles-Furlow. With 983 wins, Coach Summitt is the winningest NCAA basketball coach in both the men's and women's leagues. At the onset of the season, Summitt also received the prestigious John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching lifetime achievement award. As the first female to receive this award, Summitt was recognized for her talents and hard work with her players both on and off the court. Thanks to the dedication of the entire coaching staff, the Lady Vols have an impressive track record of winning games and also boast an impressive 100 percent graduation rate for student athletes who completed their eligibility at the University. Congratulations are also in order for forward Candace Parker, who was named the most outstanding player of the Final Four for the second year in a row. Parker, a junior from Naperville, Illinois, also broke the University of Tennessee's record for free throws made and attempted, and moved into third place at the University for single season scoring. In her tenure at the University of Tennessee, Parker has scored in double figures 105 times, and the championship game was the 44th game in a row that she completed this fete. Parker was also named the 2008 Naismith Women's College Player of the Year, and was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks as the first pick in the WNBA draft. We must also congratulate Shannon Bobbit and Nicky Anosike who, along with Parker, rounded out the All-Final Four team. Bobbit, a senior from Manhattan, New York, moved into third place in the University of Tennessee's record books when she scored three three-pointers in the final game, for a total of 77 three-pointers in a single season. Anosike, a senior from Staten Island, New York, ranks fourth in steals in NCAA history, with 44 in her career, and tied for second in a championship game with six against the Cardinal. The extraordinary achievement of this year is attributed to the skill and dedication of the many players, coaches, students, alumni, family, and fans that have helped make the University of Tennessee a basketball powerhouse. Winning the national championship, finishing the season with a 36-2 overall record, and winning the Southeastern Conference tournament title has once again brought national acclaim to the University of Tennessee. I know that fans of the University will revel in this accomplishment as they look forward to the 2009 season. Madam Speaker, once again, I congratulate the University of Tennessee women's basketball team for their success. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, at this time I will yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee, Representative John Tanner.

Mr. HARE

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

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, as an Illini fan, I feel a little bit encircled here, but I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate University of Florida quarterback Timothy ``Tim'' Tebow for winning the greatest recognition in college football, the Heisman Trophy, and to honor both his athletic and academic achievements. Tim Tebow received the Heisman Trophy on December 8, 2007 and became the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman. This award recognizes Tim Tebow's college football accomplishments and record-breaking season as he became the first player in college football history to run for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in the same season. Tim set a new Southeastern Conference record with 51 total touchdowns in a single season. Rushing for 22 of those touchdowns, he set an all-time new national collegiate record for quarterbacks as well. Although his rushing abilities inspired spectators and left his opponents confounded, his strong arm also contributed to a stellar athletic performance. Tim completed more than 68 percent of his passing attempts for a total of 3,132 yards during the 2007 season. He led the University of the Florida to a 9-3 record and helped the Gators lead the conference in scoring and total yardage. Beyond the field, Tim Tebow has proven himself an astute student in the classroom. He has maintained a 3.77 grade point average while he has been at the University of Florida, and is only the fourth sophomore from the University of Florida to become a member of the Academic All- American First Team. Tebow has exhibited exemplary character by carrying a torch of leadership off the football field to help those less fortunate. Tim has transcended simply being a football inspiration to his teammates and fans. He is also a philanthropic inspiration, regularly visiting orphanages and hospitals in the Philippines and the United States. Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the University of the Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow, for an outstanding two years of athletic and academic performance. I urge all my colleagues to pass this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, just one quick note. This is a wonderful resolution for a wonderful young man, and nobody deserves it more than Tim Tebow. So I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the resolution.

Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 901 into the Record.

Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 901) congratulating University of Florida Quarterback Timothy ``Tim'' Tebow for winning the Heisman Trophy and honoring both his athletic and academic achievements.

Mr. HARE

Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

Mr. HARE

Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2192) to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman within the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, at this point I would like to yield 3 minutes to the author of H.R. 2192, a tremendous friend of veterans, not only in New Hampshire, but across this country, Congressman Paul Hodes.

Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am glad my colleagues and I on both sides of the aisle were able to work together to craft this important piece of legislation. I would like to thank the Subcommittee on Health Chairman, Mike Michaud of Maine, and Ranking Member Jeff Miller for the bipartisan leadership they demonstrated in working on this important bill. Over 30,000 servicemembers have been wounded in Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Many of these servicemembers suffer from multiple serious injuries that will require long-term care, spanning beyond their discharge and into the care they receive from the VA. In 2007, reports from the Independent Review Group, the President's Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes, and the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, all highlighted the need to improve case management for servicemembers and veterans in the military health system and in the VA. In response, the VA instituted a number of initiatives to support veterans and their families. These measures include appointing patient advocates in every medical center for OEF and OIF coordinators and transition patient advocates for those seriously injured in combat. The Joint Federal Recovery Coordinator Program was also established to serve as a single point of contact for seriously wounded and ill servicemembers, veterans and their families. However, the scope of the FRCP is very limited. As of June 1, 2008, there were only eight recovery coordinators working with 80 patients. Less seriously wounded veterans do not have access to the FRCP. Instead, they must attempt to navigate the complex system using medical centers, patient advocates, benefit counselors, OEF and OIF coordinators, transition patient advocates and vet center counselors. H.R. 2192, as amended, would create the Office of the Ombudsman within the VA to oversee patient advocacy work and coordinate assistance for our Nation's veterans. The office would be tasked with identifying trends across the system in patient issues and complaints that would allow improvements to VA policies, practices and procedures. The office would also serve as the arbiter of last resort for complaints and issues that cannot be resolved at local or regional levels. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 2912. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HARE

Mr. HARE. 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. 2192, as amended.

Mr. HARE

Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4255) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to the Paralympic Program of the United States Olympic Committee, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HARE

Mr. HARE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank you for those kind words. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6445, to prohibit the collection of certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled. I want to commend Representative Don Cazayoux of Louisiana for introducing this measure. This bill also includes legislation that I authored, H.R. 6439, the Mental Health for Heroes' Families Act. Current law allows the VA to provide support services to immediate family members of veterans being treated for service-connected conditions. However, with respect to other veterans, the VA may only provide the services when they are initiated during a period of hospitalization, greatly limiting veterans and their families' access to care. While not changing the rule that such services must be deemed necessary for the veteran's treatment, my bill simply repeals the precondition that a veteran must be hospitalized before initiating family services. The VA has begun to transform the delivery of mental health care from an inpatient-based model to an outpatient model, which has improved efficiency and increased veterans' access to care. However, as a result, some families have become ineligible for support services simply because their loved one's care was provided on an outpatient basis. As long as family support services are necessary in connection with the veteran's treatment, it should be irrelevant whether the disability under treatment is service-connected or provided in a hospital. This bill would make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of men and women, and I am pleased it is being considered as part of H.R. 6445. I urge all of my colleagues to support Mr. Cazayoux's legislation to ensure that our veterans and their families receive the care and support they need. Once again, I want to thank the chairman of our committee, Chairman Filner, and Ranking Member Buyer.