Jeff Miller

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 1402, as amended, the VA Expiring Authorities Act of 2013. Mr. Speaker, to put it simply, this bill extends the legal authorization for several VA authorities. Without enactment of this bill before December 31, 2013, the authorization to run certain programs and exercise certain legal authorities would end. This would be very detrimental to veterans and their families. For example, the bill extends VA's authority to ensure that severely disabled veterans have priority access to nursing home care, to include those who require that level of care for service-connected disabilities. It also extends VA's adaptive sports program, which is currently run through a partnership with the U.S. Paralympic committee. I have met with veterans who have benefited from this partnership and have seen firsthand the positive impact that the activities and events have had on them and their families. H.R. 1402, as amended, would extend other legal authorities to help veterans, including the authorization for treatment and rehabilitative services for homeless and seriously mentally ill veterans, housing assistance for homeless veterans, authorization to permit the use of contract exam providers for disability claims, and several other important extensions. I am pleased also to report that funding for these extensions was included in both the President's budget request and appropriation bills passed by the House and pending in the Senate. I thank my good friend and ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Michaud, for his assistance to bring this piece of legislation to the floor. And again, I want to thank all of my colleagues in the Senate for reaching an agreement with us on this language, especially the Senate VA chairman, Mr. Sanders, and the ranking member, Mr. Burr of North Carolina. Once again, I want to encourage all Members to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3521) to authorize Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility leases, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3521, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3521, the Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013, as amended, would authorize 27 major medical facility leases requested by VA in the fiscal year 2013 and 2014 budget submissions. It would also make a number of congressional findings and establish certain requirements for the budgetary treatment of such leases to ensure that the legislation itself meets both the spirit and the intent of the House CutGo rule. As we all know, when the committee was considering legislation to authorize VA's major medical facility leases last year, the Congressional Budget Office raised concerns about how to properly account for VA's lease authorizations. In response to CBO concerns, section 3 of the bill would require VA to record an obligation at the time a contract is signed in an amount equal to either the total payment that would be made under its full term or an amount equal to the sum of the first annual lease payment and any specified cancelation costs. For the last year, I have remained committed to working closely with VA, CBO, and our colleagues from both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol to find a way forward for VA's major medical facility lease program on behalf of the veterans of this country, especially those in the 27 communities that will be impacted by the leases included in this piece of legislation. To that end, I am grateful for the hard work and the leadership of our ranking member, Mike Michaud of Maine, and the other committee members in advancing this piece of legislation to the floor. At this time, I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3521, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize and congratulate Miss Emma Strom on her extraordinary achievement in high school swimming. Emma, a junior at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, swam her career-best time of 55.83 to win the Florida title Class 2A state championship in the 100-yard backstroke. From a young age, Emma displayed a great talent for swimming and was blessed with having the support of her family to share her passion for aquatics. Her parents as well as her siblings, Amelia, Alex, and Olivia, are all involved in the swimming community. Mr. Strom has coached swimming for years, while Mrs. Strom is a certified swim meet official. Emma's sister, Amelia, who is also a student at Choctawhatchee High School, participated in the state meet and was able to share in Emma's moment of victory. In addition to her commitment and passion for swimming, Emma possesses an excellent academic record and is highly involved both at Choctawhatchee High, as well as, in the greater community. As a participant in the Advanced Placement Program, Emma maintains a 4.46 weighted GPA and is active in several academic and community service clubs in addition to her rigorous swim training schedule. Her passion for swimming is also exemplified by her involvement in the community team, Coast Aquatics, as well as, her time coaching young swimmers at Meigs Middle School in Shalimar, Florida. Emma also serves her parish, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fort Walton Beach, as an alter server. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize Miss Emma Strom on her swimming state championship. Her hard work and dedication shines through in everything she does. My wife Vicki and I wish her all the best for continued success both athletically and academically.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and dedicated service of Northwest Florida's beloved Dr. William West Thompson, who passed away on December 2, 2013. Throughout his long and distinguished career in medicine and public service, Dr. Thompson served as an inspiration to countless individuals and left a lasting impression on the Okaloosa County, Florida community. All those who have been blessed by his presence mourn the loss of a great man and unparalleled public servant. Dr. Thompson, or ``Dr. T'' as he was fondly known, was born on April 6, 1921, in Hallsboro, North Carolina. Upon receiving his degrees from both Duke University and the Duke University School of Medicine in 1942 and 1947 respectively, he completed his medical training and residency at facilities across the country, including in New Jersey, Texas, Massachusetts, and Arkansas. Dr. T also served proudly in the United States Army for more than ten years in the Army Medical Corps rising to the level of Chief of a Pediatrics Unit. In 1957, after practicing in Virginia for two years, he moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where he continued practicing pediatrics. It was in Northwest Florida where Dr. T would spend the next decades of his life continuing to serve others in the community. Whether it was through house calls, late night hospital rounds, or nights spent with ailing patients, Dr. T's commitment to bettering the lives of those around him never wavered and was evidenced through his kindness and the unmatched quality of care he provided to his patients. Dr. T also lent his time and efforts to a myriad of medical associations, including the Florida Medical Association, where he served as both as Chairman and Vice President; Okaloosa County Medical Society, where he served as the organization's first president; and Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where he served as President and Chief of Pediatrics. In addition to his dedicated service and passion in the medical field, Dr. T was highly involved in public service. He served not only as the team physician for local junior high and high schools, but also was president of the Chamber of Commerce from 1967 to 1968 and a member of the Okaloosa County School Board from 1984-1989. However, many remember him for his leadership as Mayor of Fort Walton Beach from 1965 to 1966. Throughout his life, Dr. T served his Nation and community with the utmost integrity and humility. He was truly a man of compassion who possessed a passion for serving others. He will be remembered as a dedicated public official, wonderful physician, and a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great- great-grandfather. His contributions to Northwest Florida and our Nation were truly exceptional and his legacy will not be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to honor the exemplary life of Dr. William Thompson. My wife Vicki joins me in our sincerest condolences and our prayers go out to his wife, Melba; son, Wes; daughters, Emilie, Helga, Kenya, Rhonda, and Karen; nephew, Roger; grandchildren, Robert, Britt, Kyle, Alex, Renee, Michael, Ryan, Kelly, Kaylyn, Avery, and Aspen; great-grandchildren, Katherine, Amber, Alexander, Zachary, Hunter, and Kai; great-great grandson Orion; sister, Hilda, and the entire Thompson family and friends. He will truly be missed by all.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have a plan to provide real solutions that will help all Americans in this very tough economy. We want to spur economic growth, create more jobs, and provide fairness for everyone. But what do the President and his Democrat allies have to offer the 11 million Americans who are out of work today? They have offered up ObamaCare. This deeply flawed law is forcing hardworking Americans to shell out more of their hard-earned money for higher insurance costs. It is causing millions of Americans to lose their insurance coverage altogether. Too many Americans are already struggling to make ends meet. It is not fair that they are being forced to deal with the ObamaCare train wreck, too. It is time for real solutions.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the chairman, my good friend, Mr. McCaul; the ranking member, Mr. Thompson; Chairman Hudson; Congressman Rogers of Alabama; and all the members of the Homeland Security Committee for their support of this important piece of legislation. As a proud supporter of the military, as many of us in this Chamber are, I am grateful to each of my colleagues and their hardworking staffs for the opportunity to help advance H.R. 1095, the TSA Loose Change Act, which is on the floor with us today. This act is a commonsense piece of legislation with bipartisan support, has no impact on the Federal budget, and supports our men and women in uniform who dedicate their lives in defense of the freedom that we enjoy. As a result of this bill's passage, travelers' unclaimed change left at airport security checkpoints, which is currently retained by the Department of Homeland Security, would be put to good use right there in airports across America. What may seem like a small amount of change left behind to some--nickels, dimes, quarters, and pennies--actually amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars each year and can make a significant difference if used wisely. By directing TSA to transfer unclaimed money to nonprofit organizations that provide a place of rest and recuperation area for our Nation's military at our Nation's airports, H.R. 1095 would ensure that thousands of coins, when bundled together, will be used in support of millions of our Nation's warriors. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1095.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, due to travel arrangements, I missed the following rollcall votes: No. 612 through No. 614 on December 2, 2013. If present, I would have voted: rollcall vote No. 612--H.R. 3547, The Space Launch Liability Indemnification Extension Act, ``aye''; rollcall vote No. 613--H.R. 3588, To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt fire hydrants from the prohibition on the use of lead pipes, fittings, fixtures, solder, and flux, ``aye''; rollcall vote No. 614--Adoption of the Journal, ``nay''.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize the Rolling family for being selected as the 2013 Holmes County, Florida, Farm Family of the Year. Jeremy Rolling first discovered his love for farming at the young age of four, while riding in the cab of his grandfather's tractor in the Noma community of Holmes County. This love, coupled with his grandfather's influence and his grandfather instilling in Jeremy a strong work ethic, factored into Jeremy's interest in the field of Agriculture, his active involvement in the Future Farmers of America, and the foundation on which his successful farming operation is conducted today. Following high school, Jeremy met his wife Teresa, and together they settled in the Prosperity community of Holmes County. They began truck farming and small plot farming, until 2008, when Jeremy turned to row crop farming. Today, they operate a 400-acre farm that includes peanuts, cotton, oats, watermelons, and hay. Teresa and their daughter Jordan, who is in sixth grade and has embraced her green thumb at an early age, both remain actively involved in supporting Jeremy in operating the farm. Teresa assists by pulling peanut wagons, as well as operating the module builder for cotton, and Jordan grew and marketed her first crop of watermelons in 2012. There is no question that the success of the Rolling Family Farm and its expansion across county lines in five years is largely attributed to the family's hard work and joint effort. The Rolling family is also active in the community outside of their farm. They belong to the Ponce de Leon Future Farmers of America Alumni Association, and Jeremy is a member of the Florida Peanut Producer's Association. Additionally, both Jeremy and Teresa work full-time jobs. Jeremy is an Investigator for the State of Florida, and Teresa transitions from nurturing crops to the bright third-graders of Ponce de Leon Elementary School. Mr. Speaker, our great Nation was built by the tireless work of farmers and their families. The Holmes County Farm Family of the Year Award is a true reflection of the Rolling family's dedication to farming and their strong family values. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Rolling family for this great accomplishment. My wife, Vicki, and I wish them the best for continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Dale O. Knee, PhD, upon his retirement as CEO of Covenant Hospice for his dedicated service not only to the Northwest Florida community, but also to this great Nation. For over forty-five years, Dale served his country and local community in various capacities that share at least one common thread--his passion for helping his fellow man. A retired Navy Commander, business and community leader, and loving husband and father to three, Dale has much to be proud of, and I am privileged to honor his lifetime of achievements. Dale Knee began his career in service to this great Nation when he answered the call during the Vietnam War and served with honor and distinction. His service in the United States Navy spanned twenty years, and included service as a helicopter search and rescue corpsman during the Vietnam War, a Naval Intelligence Officer/NIS Special Agent, and a Medical Service Corps Officer. Before retiring as a Navy Commander, Dale served as Director of Health Affairs for the Secretary of the Navy, Medical Counter-Intelligence Advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Defense Intelligence Agency, and Administrator of the White House Medical Services under the Reagan Administration. A leader in the health care community and former hospital executive and owner of a health care consulting and development company, Consulta Network LLC, Dale has served as President and CEO of Covenant Hospice since 1993. Under his leadership, Covenant has grown to be one of the premier hospice facilities in the country, and I know firsthand how Dale's leadership at Covenant has touched the lives of countless patients and helped their families during the most difficult times. In addition to his leadership at Covenant, Dale is the chief executive for Alzheimer's Family Services, Inc., CEO of the Covenant Foundation, and co-founder of the Studer Covenant Alliance, LLC. Dale also serves as the National Director for the Board of Directors of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is a member of the Board for Florida Hospices and Palliative Care Association, the Alabama Hospice Organization, the National Hospice Work Group, and the national post-acute care think tank, Innovations Group. He also serves on the Board for Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida and is an Optimist and Rotarian. Dale completed his graduate studies at The George Washington University and has earned a doctoral degree in Health Care Administration. Dale has taught at the university level for twenty-five years, including twenty years as an Associate Professor of Healthcare Administration at the University of West Florida and as a visiting lecturer at The George Washington University and the University Of Texas College Of Health Sciences. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Dale Knee for his decades of service to our Nation and the Northwest Florida community. There are some in the world the Lord blesses with an ability to serve and a gift of leadership, and there is no question that Dale Knee is one of those people. My wife Vicki and I wish Dale; his wife Teri; and their three sons, Jeff, Matt, and Ryan, all the best.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 893) to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2013, in 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. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on S. 893.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I too ask all of my colleagues to support S. 893. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I rise today in support of S. 893, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013. Mr. Speaker, it is entirely appropriate that we consider this legislation today after we honored America's veterans yesterday. This is critically important legislation that authorizes a cost-of- living increase for disabled veterans in receipt of disability compensation payments from VA, veterans' clothing allowance payments, and other compensation for survivors of veterans who die as a result of their service to this country. The amount of the increase is determined by the consumer price index, which also controls the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries. That increase is scheduled to be 1\1/2\ percent. I want to thank Congressman Runyan of New Jersey, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for introducing H.R. 569, which was the companion bill to this piece of legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support S. 893, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Daughters of the Nile on its 100th anniversary and congratulate its members, in particular the more than 400 members of the Shimron Temple No. 133, Pensacola, Florida, on their years of service to Northwest Florida and communities throughout North America. Founded in 1913 by Mabel Krows in Seattle, Washington, the Daughters of the Nile is an international fraternal organization for adult women related by birth or marriage to a Shriner, Master Mason, a Daughter of the Nile or a member in good standing of a Masonic organization for girls. On February 20, 1913, Mabel Krows invited wives of the Nile Temple to discuss creating a club modeled after the Zuhrah's Ladies in Minneapolis, of which Mrs. Krows' mother belonged, following the disbanding of the Daughters of Isis in Tacoma, Washington. The Ladies of the Nile expanded to include the wives, daughters, mothers, widows and sisters of Nobles of any Masonic Temple, and the officers for the first Daughters of the Nile were elected on October 16, 1913. Over one hundred years after its founding, the Daughters of the Nile membership has grown to over 26,000 women in 139 cities throughout the United States and Canada. As proud supporters of Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Daughters of the Nile donates over $1.7 million annually to Shriners, amounting to more than $50 million since 1924. Its contributions to the medical care and rehabilitation of children at twenty-two hospital locations, however, spread well beyond its financial support. The members of Daughters of the Nile are also generous with their time and talent, volunteering over 150,000 hours each year. Their efforts include sewing clothing and quilts, providing toys, books, and other educational and recreational items, as well as helping to organize functions and outreach events for the hospital. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am pleased to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Daughters of the Nile and congratulate its members on this important milestone. My wife Vicki joins me in wishing its membership many more years of continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the 16th District of Ohio (Mr. Renacci).

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. So if my good friend Mr. Michaud is ready to close, so am I.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kinderhook, New York (Mr. Gibson).

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority whip, who has been a strong supporter of veterans issues in this legislative body.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the 12th District of Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).