Deborah Halvorson

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Thank you, Chairman Gordon, for the opportunity to speak in support of the manager's amendment. I applaud the Science and Technology Committee for the hard work you've put into this important legislation. Water issues are something I hear about often when I'm back in my district meeting with constituents. Many of my mayors have told me that the biggest challenge facing their communities is our aging water infrastructure problems. Residents in many small rural towns do not have reliable access to safe drinking water. This is not only a public safety issue but it is also an economic development issue. Communities with inadequate water infrastructure or an unsafe drinking water supply are unlikely to attract the types of commercial development that will put people back to work. There is little doubt that the business community has a tremendous stake in the future of our Nation's water supply. That is why I am pleased the manager's amendment includes language I put forward to ensure that the interagency committee created by H.R. 1145 works together with the business community. Small businesses especially need help accessing the information and innovation technologies that will allow them to become smarter and more efficient consumers of water. As a member of the Small Business Committee, I am proud to play a role in making this process possible. This manager's amendment recognizes that our Nation's water challenges will require not only intergovernmental cooperation, but also public-private partnerships. Working together, government and the private sector can pool resources and implement the ambitious goals outlined by the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act. I thank Chairman Gordon again for the opportunity to speak in support of the manager's amendment.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition is committed to the adoption of policies that will put our Nation on a path towards energy independence and a prosperous clean energy economy. With legislation to encourage environmentally friendly energy production, we can finally achieve this goal. We can turn our American ingenuity towards a new and vibrant clean industry that will create millions of new jobs. We cannot ignore the facts of climate change. We have to act now to ensure that our children and their children will enjoy the same Earth on which we live today. Solar, wind, biofuels, natural gas, advanced coal technology, and others are not just the fuels of the future. They are the fuels of today. They are ready for large-scale use in the global economy. American companies are ready to lead the way, but Congress must first take action. As a member of SEEC and as cochair of the New Dem Energy Task Force, I encourage my colleagues to participate in the debate for a stronger energy-efficient America.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1171) to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal years 2010 through 2014, as amended.

Mrs. HALVORSON. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Congressman John Boozman of Arkansas, for crafting H.R. 1171, the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, to help our Nation's veterans overcome the barriers of homelessness. I would also like to thank Chairman Bob Filner and the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota for the strong bipartisan leadership she demonstrated in working on this legislation. H.R. 1171, as amended, would augment current Federal programs by reauthorization of the Labor Department's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program through fiscal year 2014. Specifically, this program would allocate grants for State and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies, nonprofit and community organizations to provide employment assistance and supportive services, such as transportation assistance in finding housing and referral for mental health treatment or substance abuse counseling. Furthermore, this legislation would authorize $10 million for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to expand the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program to address the unique needs of homeless women veterans and veterans with children. While the exact number of homeless veterans is unknown, the VA estimates that approximately 154,000 veterans were homeless across the country during the last week of January 2007. These homeless veterans will benefit from organizations like the Volunteers of America in Illinois, Medical Professionals for Home Health Care, and the Inner Voice, Incorporated, which currently participate in the homeless veterans reintegration program in my State of Illinois. Providing these organizations the resources to improve preventive measures and address the unique health and mental illness needs of veterans will help ensure our homeless veterans succeed in life after their service to our country. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in reaffirming our Nation's commitment to care for our servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents by supporting H.R. 1171. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. 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. 1171, as amended.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H.R. 1171, as amended. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1377) to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1377, as amended, which would expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a nondepartment facility. This legislation would assist veterans who get hurt while they are off duty and require emergency care in a non-VA medical facility. These veterans do not currently receive any reimbursement from the VA if they have third-party insurance that pays either full or a portion of the emergency care. This creates an inequity that penalizes veterans with insurance, including auto insurance, which is oftentimes mandated by law. A veteran with an insurance policy which covers any portion of the cost for emergency treatment would be burdened with the remaining amount not covered by insurance. This unfair policy has caused many veterans undue stress and has placed them in unnecessary financial hardship. H.R. 1377, as amended, eliminates this inequity by requiring the VA to pay for emergency care in a non-VA facility, even if the veteran holds a policy that will pay for any portion of their care. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Ranking Member Buyer and the Health Subcommittee chairman, Mr. Michaud, for their contributions to this bill as well as the staff. I urge your support in passing H.R. 1377, as amended. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. 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. 1377, as amended.

Mrs. HALVORSON. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. I continue to reserve the balance of my time, Madam Speaker.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I also want to thank Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for working so hard together to make sure that these wonderful Veterans Affairs issues come before the body. No matter what rumor has ever come up that might come from the administration, the Veterans Committee has always made sure that the veterans are first and foremost in all of our minds. I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H.R. 1377, as amended. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1513) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of passage of the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009, H.R. 1513, which was introduced by one of the newer members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and sure to be one of our body's most dynamic Members, Mrs. Kirkpatrick from Arizona. And I thank you for your leadership on the bill. I also want to thank the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mr. Buyer, who has been supportive of this noncontroversial bill and helped with its unanimous passage from our committee to allow consideration by the full House. The fact that we were able to get this bill to the floor within nearly a month of its introduction shows the House leadership's commitment to our Nation's veterans, their families, and their survivors. Like it has done since 1976, Congress, through the passage of this measure, would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of basic compensation for disabled veterans and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation, the DIC, to their survivors and dependents, along with other benefits in order to keep pace with the rising cost of living. The disability COLA would become effective December 1, 2009, and will be equal to that provided on an annual basis to Social Security recipients. Last year, the COLA was set at 5.8 percent, an increase direly needed, as the financial crush of the recession from the previous administration closed in on many of our disabled veterans' households. Madam Speaker, this bill will benefit each disabled veteran and their survivors from the World War I era through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the nearly 3 million veterans who receive these benefits depend upon these tax-free payments, not only to provide for their own basic needs, but for those of their spouses, children and parents as well. Without an annual COLA increase, these veterans and their families would see the value of their hard-earned benefits slowly erode. We would be derelict in our duty if we failed to guarantee that those who sacrifice so much for our country receive benefits and services that keep pace with their needs. We fund the war. Let's fund the warrior and his family and survivors by ensuring that their benefits keep pace with their living expenses. Let's ensure that their benefits make ends meet at the end of the month. Madam Speaker, as we approach our country's 141st Memorial Day commemoration, I ask my colleagues to support this bill and send a clear message to support our troops. ``You will be taken care of when you return. We will not forget your sacrifice.'' 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 they need to support themselves and their families. I urge my colleagues to support passage of the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009, H.R. 1513, without delay. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1513. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. 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. 1513.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I too want to thank my fellow freshman colleague, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) for his help today, as well as Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for the wonderful work we've been able to do this year. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to unanimously support H.R. 1513.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from California, the sponsor of this resolution, Ms. Sanchez.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Then we reserve the balance of our time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. 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 234.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 234) expressing support for designation of a ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day''.