Jeff Miller

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe), a very important person to our committee. Dr. Roe is an Army veteran himself from the First District of Tennessee, Johnson City.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, again I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mrs. Stephanie Duffy as the 2016 Santa Rosa County Teacher of the Year. For more than two decades, Mrs. Duffy has served the students of Gulf Breeze High School and Santa Rosa County with exceptional enthusiasm, an infectious positive attitude, and an unwavering commitment to academic excellence. In Northwest Florida, we are blessed with an abundance of world-class educators and schools, as evidenced by the many schools in the Florida Panhandle that consistently receive the highest possible ratings each year from the State of Florida. Gulf Breeze High School is one of many exceptional schools in Northwest Florida, and for over 21 years, Mrs. Duffy has been integral to the success of Gulf Breeze High students, working tirelessly to fulfill the school's lofty motto to ``Expect Excellence.'' As a math teacher, Mrs. Duffy provides rigorous math instruction to hundreds of students each year in a wide-range of vital math subjects. Whether she is teaching Pre-Algebra, Algebra I Credit Recovery, Algebra I, Algebra II, Informal Geometry, Geometry, Geometry Honors, Analytic Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, or Math Analysis, Mrs. Duffy's assiduous work ethic and warm demeanor combine to create a learning environment where her students are simultaneously challenged and supported. By expecting excellence, and providing a positive environment for students to engage with important math subjects, Mrs. Duffy motivates her students to attain their educational goals and develop the math skills that our Nation needs in tomorrow's leaders. While there is no question that Mrs. Duffy is an exceptional teacher in the classroom, she also goes the extra mile to ensure that her students are successful in both their academic and extracurricular endeavors, helping to build well-rounded students that will become future civic leaders. Mrs. Duffy is known for providing free tutoring sessions to any student that is looking for a little extra help to achieve their goals, or looking to excel beyond the curriculum. By making herself available both before and after school, Mrs. Duffy ensures that all the students who want additional instruction have an opportunity for extra learning. Mrs. Duffy also sponsors myriad extracurricular activities to give students a chance to grow and gain valuable life skills. As the sponsor of study body classes, the National Honor Society, the Optimist Club, and the Geometry Team, Mrs. Duffy demonstrates a constant commitment to her students, school, and the entire Northwest Florida community. The importance of teachers is unquantifiable, and each and every teacher should be commended for their commitment to our Nation's future. Throughout her career as a teacher, Mrs. Duffy has shown time and again that she understands the important position that teachers serve as role models for their students, and her incontrovertible commitment to professionalism extends beyond the boundaries of her classroom. Her success and the success of her students speaks for itself; however, her selection as Santa Rosa County Teacher of the Year, chosen from a large pool of extremely qualified applicants, is further reflection of Mrs. Duffy's tremendous work ethic and steadfast dedication to the students of Northwest Florida. She has proven to be among the many exceptional teachers in our Nation, and I am proud to have her as a constituent in Florida's First Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Mrs. Stephanie Duffy for her accomplishments and her continuing commitment to excellence at Gulf Breeze High School and in the Santa Rosa County School District. My wife Vicki joins me in congratulating Mrs. Duffy, and we wish her all the best for continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Ms. Kristy Imhof as the 2017 Escambia County, Florida, Teacher of the Year. For more than a decade, Ms. Imhof has inspired her students through an enthusiastic teaching style that allows students to engage with their learning materials, develop their skills, and reach their highest potential. Throughout her career as an educator, Ms. Imhof has exemplified many of the most important characteristics of a world-class educator. Upon graduating from Florida State University, Ms. Imhof began her teaching career at Emerald Coast Academy in Pensacola, developing a curriculum to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities, before joining the Escambia County School District as a seventh grade history teacher at Ransom Middle School in Pensacola. Ms. Imhof was at the forefront of educators integrating new technology into the teaching experience to help better engage her students to connect with our Nation's storied history, and during this time, she also led workshops with her fellow teachers to help them incorporate technology into their lesson plans. Thanks in large part to her success leading her fellow coworkers at Ransom, Ms. Imhof then joined an educational consulting company, CompassLeaming, where she was responsible for training teachers and administrators from Pensacola to Tallahassee on how to implement new plans to bring computers into the classroom and utilize the expanding array of educational software. Like many great teachers, Ms. Imhof is also deeply committed to serving and improving her local community, as evidenced by her time spent as an English literacy and civics teacher at Santa Rosa Adult School in Milton. In this capacity, she played an integral role in a new district program to improve academic achievement for students from non-English speaking homes, which included her simultaneously teaching civics lessons to non-English speaking parents, to better integrate them into the Northwest Florida community, and tutoring their children during school hours. In this capacity, Ms. Imhof consistently went above and beyond, conducting weekly home visits and serving as a liaison to bridge language and cultural gaps, thereby improving the educational experience, and as a result the academic achievements, of many Northwest Florida students. In 2013, Ms. Imhof returned to Ransom Middle School, where she began her tenure in the Escambia County School District. In her current capacity as a seventh grade English teacher, Ms. Imhof strives to challenge and motivate her students to develop a passion for reading and language arts, while also focusing on how to translate their studies into real-world writing skills using extensive modeling and mentor texts. In addition to her success in the classroom, Ms. Imhof continues to be a leader amongst her peers, serving as a Mentor Teacher to help pass on the lessons she has learned to those entering the educational field. In addition, she also serves on the Interview Committee, is the Student of the Month Chairperson, Grade Level Treasurer, and Boxtops for Education Coordinator, while also serving the Ransom student body further as the Cross Country Club Sponsor and Assistant Track Coach. Teachers are amongst our Nation's most valuable public servants. Both in and out of the classroom, they help mentor their students and ensure that our next generation emerges ready to lead our Nation in the future. Ms. Imhof's assiduous work ethic, unbridled enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to student engagement exemplify the characteristics of an extraordinary teacher, and her selection as the 2017 Escambia County Teacher of the Year is a well-deserved reflection of her success and leadership in and out of the classroom. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Ms. Kristy Imhof for her accomplishments and her continuing commitment to excellence at Ransom Middle School and in the Escambia County School District. My wife Vicki joins me in congratulating Ms. Imhof, and we wish her all the best for continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Chief Gregory Brand for his dedicated service to the Gulf Coast community on the occasion of his retirement as the Chief of Police from the City of Milton, Florida. Always striving for greatness, Chief Brand earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Saint Thomas University in Miami, Florida, where he was elected to ``Who's Who among students in American Universities and Colleges.'' Upon graduation, Chief Brand began his law enforcement career in South Florida with the Hollywood Police Department in February 1977. After more than twenty-five years in Hollywood, during which he rose to the rank of Major, Chief Brand retired from the Hollywood Police Department and accepted the position of Chief of Police for the City of Milton in May 2002. Although now retiring, Chief Brand will remain in the city which he has grown to love so dearly. As a former Deputy Sheriff, I understand the important and sometimes underappreciated role that law enforcement officers play in the local community in Northwest Florida and in communities across the country. Each and every day, dedicated law enforcement officers put themselves in danger to protect and serve their community as an officer of the law. Chief Brand has been a true pillar of the Northwest Florida community and exemplifies all of the qualities of a world-class law enforcement officer. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful community, I am pleased to congratulate Chief Gregory Brand on his well-earned retirement. His decades of service are a testament to his commitment to the State of Florida, and my wife Vicki and I wish him all the best in his well- earned retirement with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mrs. Charlotte Wadsworth as the Okaloosa County, Florida Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Wadsworth has been an inspiration to her students, her colleagues, and her community, and I am privileged to recognize her success and myriad of achievements. Mrs. Wadsworth began her teaching career homeschooling her own children and then working as an hourly teacher for the Blended School for two years. In 2009, she began working full time as a 2nd Grade Teacher at Walker Elementary School before transferring to Baker School as a 4th grade teacher in October 2011. Since August 2012, she has served in her current capacity as a high school English teacher at Baker High School. Northwest Florida has been blessed with an abundance of exemplary educators. First as a teacher homeschooling her children, then during her tenure teaching elementary school, and now in her current role as a high school teacher, Mrs. Wadsworth has proven time and again that she understands and values the critical role that educators play in the journey, development, and success of their pupils. Throughout her teaching career, Mrs. Wadsworth has shown an unwavering commitment to inspiring her students to reach their highest potential. Most recently, she has demonstrated her leadership as yearbook advisor, where she enjoys celebrating life's milestones, rejoicing in students' athletic and academic accomplishments, and capturing events in the Baker community. Teachers are amongst our most valuable public servants, and they play an integral role in shaping the future of our Nation. The Okaloosa County Teacher of the Year award is a reflection of Mrs. Wadsworth's tireless work ethic and steadfast dedication to the Okaloosa County community. She has proven to be among the many exceptional teachers in Northwest Florida, and her contributions to her students and community are unparalleled. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize Charlotte Wadsworth as the Okaloosa County, Florida Teacher of the Year and thank her for her commitment to service to Northwest Florida. My wife Vicki joins me in congratulating Mrs. Wadsworth, and we wish her all the best for her continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Mrs. Juanita Payne-Galbreath as the Okaloosa County, Florida, Education Support Professional of the Year. Mrs. Payne-Galbreath has proven to be a truly exceptional mentor whose impact extends far beyond her students, and I am proud to recognize her success and outstanding achievements. Mrs. Payne-Galbreath graduated from Niceville High School before attending Pensacola Junior College. After completing her studies, Mrs. Payne-Galbreath joined the Okaloosa County School District, where she has served thousands of students over the last 18 years and has filled numerous important roles. She began her education career at Combs New Heights as an assistant, lunchroom monitor, and Exceptional Student Education classroom assistant, before continuing her career at Fort Walton Beach High School where she worked for five years in several capacities. She then moved to her current position at Crestview High School, where she is as an ESE paraprofessional. Outside of school, Mrs. Payne-Galbreath--a loving wife to her husband, Joshua and mother to their ten children--still finds time to serve Okaloosa County students, going far above and beyond the core responsibilities of her job. Her dedication to the students of Okaloosa County and her community is exemplified by the ``Showers of Blessings Nook,'' a service she created that provides high school students and their families basic needs such as--shoes, toiletries, and food gift cards. Northwest Florida is grateful to have such a compassionate individual working with our youth. Without question, her tangible contributions to her students are appreciated. It is Mrs. Payne- Galbreath's love, faith, and nurturing character, however, for which we are most grateful. Mr. Speaker, the Okaloosa County Education Support Professional of the Year award is a true reflection of Mrs. Payne-Galbreath's steadfast dedication to the students of Okaloosa County. I am privileged to recognize Juanita for her accomplishments and her continuing commitment to excellence. My wife Vicki joins me in congratulating her and thanking her for her dedication to serving the students, teachers, and families of the Northwest Florida community. We wish Mrs. Payne- Galbreath all the best for continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the historic St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pensacola, Florida. St. Joseph parish of Pensacola traces its roots back to 1891, as an outgrowth of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church and to the pastorship of Reverend Robert Fullerton. Although it was founded as the first African-American church in the Diocese of Mobile, St. Joseph Catholic Church cared not only for the religious needs of the Pensacola African-American community, but the church also served individuals from diverse backgrounds who wished to worship at the church. Whether in its original two-story wooden building or its current Gothic Revival style structure adorned with stained-glass windows and completed in 1894, the multi-cultural parish family has been blessed by the Word of God for 125 years. During that time, the church underwent structural and pastoral changes, operated Maryall Negro Missions and four mission chapels, Our Lady of Fatima Mission School, a grammar school, at one point the only Catholic African-American high school in the state of Florida, St. Joseph orphanage that opened its doors to homeless African-American boys, and Our Lady of Angels Maternity Hospital for African-American women, as well as St. Joseph Cemetery. Today St. Joseph's ministry continues to care for the Pensacola community through the Our Lady of Angels Free Clinic, which serves the homeless and needy individuals throughout the area; the Caring and Sharing Outreach, which provides food and clothing; and the St. Joseph Soup Kitchen, which serves free meals to the homeless. One constant thread throughout its storied history, however, is the parish's strong faith in God. It is through their strength and that of the local community, guided by the Holy Spirit, that the church has not only stayed together, but has also grown strong through hardship. Whether faced with the Jim Crow laws or the natural disasters like Hurricane Ivan, which devastated the entire Gulf Coast in 2004, nothing could tear apart the bonds of this community. When faced with adversity, the congregation continually emerged stronger and remains today as a pillar in the Northwest Florida community, full of humility and compassion-- the characteristics exhibited by its namesake thousands of years ago. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor St. Joseph Catholic Church of Pensacola, its leadership and its congregants for 125 years of faithful service to God. For over a century St. Joseph's has been an integral part of the Pensacola community, my wife Vicki and I thank them for their dedication to the people of Northwest Florida and pray for their continued success. May God grant St. Joseph parish many more years to come and may His blessings continue to shine down on them.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 69, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material they may have on H.R. 2360, as amended, in the Record.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

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 and to add any extraneous material on H.R. 4437.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4437) to extend the deadline for the submittal of the final report required by the Commission on Care.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4437, a bill that I am honored to sponsor, to extend the deadline for the submittal of the final report that is required by the Commission on Care. The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, which Congress passed in 2014 in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs' crisis that saw far too many veterans waiting too long for the care that they needed, required the establishment of a Commission on Care to examine veteran access to care and recommend how to best organize the VA healthcare system over the next 20 years. The law required the Commission to develop a final report 180 days after their first meeting, or by February 20, 2016. However, the Commission has requested that Congress extend the reporting deadline to June in order to provide the commissioners more time to develop their findings and recommendations. As such, H.R. 4437 would extend the Commission's final reporting deadline to June 30 of this year. The Commission's work is vitally important to determining the future of the VA healthcare system, and I am proud to sponsor this bill to allow the commissioners more time to carry out their mission on behalf of our Nation's veterans. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 4437, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 4437. I yield back 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. 3106) to authorize Department major medical facility construction projects for fiscal year 2015, to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the administration of Department medical facility construction projects, 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 and to add extraneous material on H.R. 3106, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I do rise in support of H.R. 3106, as amended, the Construction Reform Act of 2016. This bill would strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs' major construction program by making a number of needed improvements to VA's construction management processes. As the owner and operator of one of the Federal Government's largest real property portfolios, VA manages a complex and costly major medical facility construction program. In recent years, that program has been fraught with failures and mismanagement that has led to millions of dollars of cost increases and years of schedule delays on all of VA's major medical facility construction projects. The most glaring example of these failings can be seen in the construction of the replacement VA medical center in Denver, Colorado. The discussion surrounding that facility--if my colleagues will recall--began more than 16 years ago, in 1999. Construction is now expected to conclude in 2018. Upon completion, that project will be more than $1 billion over budget and many, many years behind schedule. That is assuming, of course, that the project does not experience any further delays. To prevent any further construction calamities like the ongoing one in Denver, this bill would require VA to use industry standards, standard designs, and best practices for all medical facility construction projects; to complete a master plan for each VA medical facility; and to provide regular reports on super construction projects. To further strengthen oversight of VA's construction projects, the bill would also create an assistant inspector general for construction within the VA Office of Inspector General. These are commonsense reforms that will lead, ultimately, to better facilities for our veterans and better use of our taxpayers' hard- earned dollars. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), my good friend, a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and somebody who has been on this from the very, very beginning.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 3106, as amended. I yield back 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. 3016) to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the role of podiatrists in the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Abraham), who is from the Fifth District of Louisiana and is a fine member of our Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

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 to add any extraneous materials on H.R. 3016, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 3016, as amended, the Veterans Employment, Education, and Healthcare Improvement Act. This bill, which was introduced by the chairman of our Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Congressman Wenstrup of Ohio, includes a number of provisions relating to veterans' health care, education, and employment benefits. One provision of the bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a new fourth administration to streamline the oversight of the many VA programs and benefits that assist veterans with transition and that promote their economic welfare. These benefits include vocational rehabilitation and employment, GI Bill education benefits, the verification of veteran-owned small businesses, the VA's portion of the Transition Assistance Program, and the home loan guaranty program. Another provision of the bill would make needed improvements to education and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits by, among other things, closing a costly loophole that has allowed some contracted-out flight schools to charge the VA hundreds of thousands of dollars in excessive tuition and fee payments. Still other provisions would improve the administration of benefits and expand opportunities for the use of the home loan benefit by eliminating the loan limit that caps the amount of money the VA will guarantee under the home loan program. This would help tens of thousands of veterans who are living in high-cost areas to realize the dream that many Americans strive for. Health-related provisions of the bill would elevate the role of podiatrists in the VA medical facilities, improve care for the newborn children of female veterans, create a pilot program on service dog training for veterans with post-traumatic stress, and require the Government Accountability Office to conduct period audits of the VA's budget. I am grateful to Dr. Wenstrup, to Dr. Roe, and to the many other sponsors of these provisions for their hard work and leadership in crafting and in developing this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from the Second District of Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup), the chairman of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee and a combat veteran, himself.