Jeff Miller

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the Rawson family for being selected as the Okaloosa County, Florida Outstanding Farm Family for 2012. Ten years ago, the Rawson family was in search of acreage for hunting. This search subsequently evolved into a successful family run tree farm with a fruit orchard and over one hundred and fifty new oak trees planted each year. Over the past ten years, the Rawson family has managed the land to grow trees and attract wildlife. They use their one hundred fifty acres to plant myriad trees, including loblolly and slash pine longleaf, sawtooth, bur, shumard, willow, swamp chestnut, cherry bark oak, and pecan trees. The family's fruit orchard with pears, muscadines, and many other fruits was a later addition to the preexisting varieties of plants. David and Pat Rawson have been married for thirty-six years, and they have three wonderful children, Paige, Suzanne, and Scott. They all assist in helping out with the farm, including tree planting, pruning, fertilizing, bush hogging, and weed management. It is David and Pat's plan to one day pass on the farm to their children to continue their farming legacy. The Rawson family truly embodies the cohesive nature and household unity that characterize our nation's family farmers. Outside of their farm, David works part-time as an oral surgeon, and Pat is a devoted homemaker. In addition, both find the time to be active members of the Northwest Florida community. David is a member of the Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Florida Dental Association, Escambia and Santa Rosa Dental Society, and Escambia Sertoma. Pat is a member of the Junior League of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary. They both worship and volunteer at the Dorcas Baptist Church, and their continued commitment to agriculture and wildlife is further displayed through their involvement with the Certified Tree Farmers of America, National Wild Turkey Federation, Forest Landowners Association, National Rifle Association, and Florida Farm Bureau. The Rawson's commitment to farm, family, faith, and community is certainly commendable, and they serve as an example to all. Mr. Speaker, our great nation was built by farmers and their families, and I take great pride in recognizing and paying tribute to the outstanding farm families located in Northwest Florida. This year we honor the Rawson family for their contributions to Okaloosa County and the farming community. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Rawson family for being awarded the title of Okaloosa County, Florida Outstanding Farm Family for 2012. My wife, Vicki and I extend our best wishes for their continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. For 60 years, the students, teachers, and staff at Choctawhatchee High have exhibited the assiduous dedication to excellence that makes our nation great. In 1962, Okaloosa County, Florida completed plans to open a high school in Shalimar, Florida. The county provided a state of the art building designed to hold 500 students; however, the school did not have an official name, so the local newspaper held a countywide naming contest. After the votes were counted, Choctawhatchee High School was declared the winner. Choctawhatchee--derived from a Creek Indian word meaning ``coming together''--was a fitting moniker for a school that would unite students from all across Okaloosa County. Choctawhatchee High School opened its doors on September 22, 1962 in Shalimar, Florida; however, after four years, the school had already exceeded its capacity, and the school relocated to its present location in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. From day one, Choctawhatchee established itself as an institution of academic excellence committed to educating each and every student. Nearly 20,000 students have graduated from the school since its opening, with many of them going on to achieve success in fields ranging from our military and space exploration to professional athletics and business. Thanks to the dedicated support of teachers, staff, alumni and the entire community, Choctawhatchee has continued to excel and reach new heights. Today, the school offers the only International Baccalaureate program in Okaloosa County, Florida, more than a dozen Advanced Placement classes, an aviation program offered in partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, duel enrollment college courses with Northwest Florida State College, computer and electrical engineering programs in conjunction with the University of West Florida, as well as a successful Air Force Junior ROTC program. Choctawhatchee also has a long and successful athletics program. In fact, the school's tradition of having a student ride a horse onto the field prior to football games served as the inspiration for a similar tradition at Florida State University. Whether it is on the playing field or in the classroom, Choctawhatchee High School's commitment to excellence has served as an inspiration and point of pride for the entire Northwest Florida community. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of Choctawhatchee High School. The Mayor and City Council of Fort Walton Beach have declared Friday, September 21, 2012, as Choctawhatchee High School Day. My wife Vicki and I join the entire Northwest Florida community in congratulating Choctawhatchee High School on their 60th anniversary and wishing them continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers on this particular piece of legislation.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 6375, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague for helping to point out the fact that the Senate, itself, has not acted on many of the pieces of legislation that, in fact, this House has passed and sent over to it. It is a shame that, for the last 3 years, they have not taken up such good legislation. With that, I thank my colleagues once again for their support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. This bill, as amended, would authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects, and it would also extend certain expiring authorities. It encompasses VA's fiscal year for 2013, for major medical facility projects, and already tracks with the resources we have already provided to the Department for health care matters in the appropriations bill that was passed by the House with bipartisan support. It would aid in the delivery of health care to services and to servicemembers, veterans, and their families in communities all across this country. It authorizes two major medical facility projects, the construction of a mental health building at the VA Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, in an amount not to exceed $222 million, and the construction of a spinal cord injury center at the VA Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, in an amount not to exceed $155.2 million. Section 102 of the bill would authorize the renovation of the surgical suite and operating rooms at the Medical Center in Miami, in an amount not to exceed $41 million. I would note that this project was originally undertaken by the Department in 2007 as two separate minor construction projects. However, in 2008, the two separate projects were combined into a single initiative without the knowledge of VA's central office, or the approval, in direct violation of established procedures. The VA officials first became aware of this issue in February of this year, and in April of this year they determined that the combined project constituted a major construction project that had moved forward without congressional authorization as required by law. Work on the project is currently suspended, at a cost of approximately $6,000 a day. As soon as our committee became aware of the issue, we requested an in-depth briefing from VA officials to get to the bottom of the issue and to ensure that the leaders of the VA responsible for this egregious oversight were, in fact, held accountable. It's really nothing short of unacceptable to this committee and, I would hope, to this Congress that this facility had been openly flouting VA policy and, more importantly, breaking Federal law for 4 years without consequence before somebody at VA took notice. How many other VA projects have moved forward without regard for proper procedure, legal requirements, or congressional authorization; and how long has the central office not been paying attention? The committee will continue to be vigorous in our oversight. But in the meantime, we cannot allow the American taxpayer or the veterans of south Florida to suffer because of a bureaucratic failing or lack of leadership. The Department has proposed using approximately $12.1 million in prior-year major construction advance planning funds to complete the remainder of the Miami project; and I've been assured repeatedly by VA officials that the use of this money will in no way negatively impact the planning or design of any other project. I've also been assured by the Department that once congressional authorization is received, the project can be completed in 120 days. I'm hopeful that the Department is correct in its assessment of the work that remains and that this provision will allow for the completion of this project to better serve the veterans in the Miami area. Section 103 of this bill would authorize the appropriation of $377.2 million for VA major construction projects. Title II of this bill would extend expiring authorities for several programs within VA, including programs designed to help veterans keep their homes, gain greater access to compensation and pension examinations, better serve veterans living in the Philippines, and provide supportive services to those who are homeless. This legislation represents a bipartisan effort; and I'd like to express my thanks to the ranking member, Mr. Filner, and Mr. Michaud for his hard work and leadership in quickly advancing this important legislation to the floor. And before I yield, I'd like to point out that the bill before us today does not include major medical facility lease authorizations, as it normally would, due to concerns raised late last week by the Congressional Budget Office about how to properly account for the total cost of VA's lease authorization. Mr. Speaker, I want to assure our veterans and stakeholders that I am committed to working closely with my colleagues in the Senate, the administration's Office of Management and Budget, and the Congressional Budget Office to find a way forward on those important authorizations in the very near future. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 6375, as amended. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6375) to authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects and leases, to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank you once again and encourage all Members to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members would have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 5948, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. That's correct, no further speakers.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I want to thank Mr. Michaud for his fine work on this legislation and others that our committee has been involved in. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important subcommittees within VA is Oversight and Investigations. That's why I asked the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson) to chair that subcommittee. With that, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio on this bill.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of New Jersey (Mr. Runyan), also somebody who has been very involved in helping us put this piece of legislation together.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. H.R. 5948, as amended, makes great strides towards protecting some of our Nation's most vulnerable veterans in improving the quality of other memorial benefits that our veterans have earned. First and foremost, this bill will bring needed protections and reforms to our most vulnerable veterans. For far too long, bad actors in VA's fiduciary program have taken advantage of veterans in every part of this great Nation. When pressed on this issue by the committee, VA claimed that the program was fine and did not need any statutory changes. This bill will help weed out those bad actors and implement the necessary oversight actions VA has failed to take while simplifying the confusing and burdensome requirements of those beneficiaries performing their jobs well on behalf of those veterans. The VA fiduciary program is intended to administer benefits for veterans deemed incompetent to handle their own finances by the Department of Veteran Affairs fiduciary program. Numerous deficiencies within the program have been highlighted by the Veterans' Affairs Committee and brought to the VA's attention; yet the Department is continually slow to act and fix these systemic problems. Among those problems are fiduciaries that are embezzling veterans' funds, refusing to pay a veteran's utility bills, fiduciaries taking more than the amount authorized by law as commission for services rendered, convicted felons appointed as fiduciaries, and fiduciaries telling veterans to conserve money by not running their air conditioning during the summer months. Mr. Speaker, despite these tragic stories, VA maintains that its fiduciary program is, in fact, sound, an argument difficult to justify when earlier this month a couple pleaded guilty to stealing over $2 million from 49 veterans. I hate to tell you that this is not an isolated case. At the beginning of 2012, a U.S. district judge sentenced two VA-appointed fiduciaries to prison for stealing nearly $900,000 from 10 different veterans. In both cases, the fiduciaries used the stolen funds to go gambling, among other things. The Veterans Fiduciary Reform and Noble Service Act makes much-needed improvements to VA's fiduciary program by allowing veterans to appeal the appointment of a fiduciary, allowing a veteran to request that a new fiduciary be appointed when cause can be shown, and to designate a preferred fiduciary ahead of time, such as a family member. The bill would also remove the profit motive for predatory fiduciaries by reducing the commission that's paid to them to a level in line with Social Security's program that's equivalent. Fiduciaries would have to undergo background checks, minimizing the chance for unqualified fiduciaries to enter the system. They'd also have to account in writing for their disbursement of a veteran's income on an annual basis, addressing another lapse in oversight the VA has failed to address. Section 3 of the legislation designates a ``Place of Remembrance'' at Arlington National Cemetery to serve as a dignified final resting place for remains of veterans that may not otherwise have a final resting place. This section is in direct response to our learning last year that cremated remains were being taken from Dover Air Force Base to a landfill, a practice that took place over a 4-year period. Sections 4, 5, and 6 aim to address an incident that happened at the Bushnell National Cemetery where a veteran with no known next of kin was buried in a cardboard box. Section 4 requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish an appropriate casket or urn for a deceased veteran with no known next of kin, where no other person claims the body, and the veteran lacks sufficient resources to cover burial and funeral expenses. Section 5 improves the communication between the VA and funeral directors and the medical examiner's office by requiring the Secretary to ensure that any entity transporting the body of a deceased veteran to a national cemetery submits to VA whether the deceased veteran was cremated and whether or not steps were taken to ensure the deceased veteran has no next of kin. Section 6 requires the Secretary to submit to both the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs a report within 180 days of enactment of this legislation detailing VA's compliance with industry standards for caskets and urns, including a description of the industry standards for caskets and urns and an assessment of compliance at the national cemeteries that are currently being administered by VA. Section 7 of H.R. 5948, as amended, would bar convicted tier 3 sex offenders sentenced to a minimum of life in prison from burial in national veterans cemeteries and some State veterans cemeteries. Currently, those convicted of capital crimes are prohibited from such burial, and this will prohibit people convicted of an equally heinous crime from tarnishing the honor of veterans cemeteries. Section 8 ensures that the explicit wishes of a veteran's family with regard to religious expressions are honored during interment or inurnment ceremonies at a VA national cemetery. Last year, officials at the Houston National Cemetery were accused of restricting religious speech at a ceremony. While that specific incident was resolved in the courts, this section provides a legislative safeguard for all national cemeteries. Section 9 would allow County Veterans Service officers and some congressional employees access to read-only information regarding the status of a veteran's claim. During a roundtable discussion between the committee and county veterans service officers, one of the main obstacles highlighted to answering veterans' questions was the lack of access to claims file information. Facilitating this additional level of assistance in the claims process is one simple step we can take to help veterans and potentially address the growing claims backlog. Section 10, as amended, will improve protections to veterans whose sensitive information has been compromised by the VA. Now, veterans may not know right now that their personal information has been compromised for well over a month after it has occurred, but in this time of predatory identity theft, that's far too long and much damage could have taken place. Section 11 of the bill adds a commonsense prohibition on the payment of bonuses to VA employees who violate Federal law, including Federal or VA acquisition regulations. Section 12 rolls back the current average of nearly $400 million the VA annually pays out in bonuses and other incentives, findings that both the committee and VA's own inspector general show numerous cases of unjustified awards--often to employees with poor performance records--and significant retention incentives going to long-term employees who had publicly stated they were already preparing to retire while others around the country are taking steps to better manage their own budgets. It's time the VA does the very same. With all of this, I want to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5948, as amended. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5948) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the supervision of fiduciaries of veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers).

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Northwest Florida's beloved William ``Bill'' Maloy. Dr. Maloy was born in Des Moines, Iowa and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. During World War II, he answered the call of duty and served our Nation with honor and distinction in the United States Navy. He was awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry in action. After the war, Dr. Maloy attended the University of Nebraska where he earned a bachelor's and master's degree in education, while also being commissioned into the Naval Reserves. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and came to Pensacola, Florida, intending to pursue a naval career; however, Dr. Maloy soon realized that he had a true passion and aptitude for teaching, and after the end of the war, he dedicated himself to education. Dr. Maloy began his teaching career in Northwest Florida as a teacher and assistant dean at Pensacola High School (PHS). After two years at PHS, Dr. Maloy moved to Tallahassee to pursue his doctorate degree in educational technology. This experience led Dr. Maloy to appreciate the important role that technology would play in education, and he proved to be a strong proponent of integrating technology into the curriculum throughout his career. After completing his doctorate in 1958, Dr. Maloy moved back to Pensacola to serve as Assistant Principal at Escambia High School. In 1959, Dr. Maloy began working with the Florida Department of Education, helping to spearhead Florida's first efforts to utilize new technology as a teaching tool. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Dr. Maloy again answered our nation's call and served as Executive Officer and subsequently Commanding Officer of the USS Tweedie, a Butler-class destroyer escort. After finishing his service, he accepted a position at Florida State University, where he became Assistant Dean of the College of Education. His expertise and dedication to education led him to serve as Education Advisor to two Florida governors, before becoming the Senior Civilian Advisor to the Chief of Naval Education and Training. In 1978, he was appointed to the Florida Board of Regents, the governing body for the State University System of Florida, and helped oversee the state's public universities. In 1992, Dr. Maloy was elected as Superintendent of Schools in Escambia County. As Superintendent, he was credited with beginning the technological revolution in the school district, and he helped move the district to the forefront of instructional education technology adopting applications to help improve student experience and performance. In 1996, he retired as Superintendent and moved to the University of West Florida where he taught until his retirement in 2009. Dr. Maloy was a loving and dedicated husband and father who instilled in his children the importance of education in helping to improve the lives of every child in America. Two of Dr. Maloy's sons went on to become educators, continuing the family legacy of promoting excellence in education. Family was everything to Dr. Maloy, and he was a true inspiration to his four children, fourteen grandchildren and one great- grandchild. To some, Dr. Bill Maloy will be remembered as a world-class educator and innovator who saw the importance of technology in education and helped to implement it in the classroom. To others, he will be remembered as a true patriot who served his country with honor and distinction in World War II and the Korean War. To his family, he will most fondly be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His contributions to education in Northwest Florida and throughout the entire State have improved the lives of countless students. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pride to honor the life and selfless service of Dr. William ``Bill'' Maloy. My wife Vicki joins me in extending our most sincere condolences to the entire Maloy family.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the recognition. I thank the gentleman from Washington, the chairman of the committee, for his recognition and his leadership on this effort, as well as Dr. John Fleming, the subcommittee chairman, and all the members of the House Natural Resources Committee for their support of this particular piece of legislation. I also have to thank members of the sportsmen's community, members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, and in particular, Congressmen Duncan from South Carolina and Wittman, Boren, Michaud, and Bonner, and my counterparts in the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus leadership-- that would be Congressmen Ross, Latta, and Shuler--for all their efforts to help advance this legislation in a bipartisan effort. Today, I join my colleagues in support of H.R. 2706, which is the Billfish Conservation Act of 2012. As the chairman has already said, the United States is the largest importer of billfish products in the world. Our populations continue to be affected by foreign commercial overfishing, and the importing of billfish only exacerbates the problem that exists today. Without passage of this bill and strengthening of the current ban of the Atlantic-caught billfish to include the sale and harvest of all billfish--excluding, as has been already said on the floor today, those fisheries in the State of Hawaii and Pacific insular area--the current ban will continue to be undermined through loopholes that have hurt our anglers and the economy. By eliminating the sale in the continental U.S., passage of this bill will support the billfish population growth, a healthy ocean ecosystem, and improve recreational fishing opportunities. As a result of the increased recreational fishing opportunities, this bill provides a huge economic boost to generate billions of dollars through direct expenditures and marine-related jobs and sales without placing a burden on the U.S. seafood market and its consumers. I want to urge all my colleagues to support this very important piece of legislation to help conserve a very depleted fish population, preserving our Nation's fishing heritage, and provide for economic growth during a time when our country needs it most.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the life of Northwest Florida's beloved Thomas Soloman (T. Sol) Johnson. T. Sol Johnson was a lifelong resident of Northwest Florida who gained a well-earned reputation as one of the finest and most respected attorneys in Santa Rosa County. Mr. Johnson was raised in a household that respected and revered our Nation's legal system. His father, A.L. Johnson, established a successful practice in Santa Rosa County, in addition to his service as County Judge. After graduating from the University of Florida School of Law in 1963, T. Sol returned to his native Milton, Florida to join his father's practice, where he quickly distinguished himself as an exceedingly qualified and honest attorney. T. Sol was a tireless advocate for his clients, and he often performed pro bono work to ensure that all those in need of legal counsel had access to the highest quality representation. In addition to his successful private practice, he served his community in multiple public capacities. He served on the Milton City Council from 1970-77, as attorney for the Santa Rosa Beach Administration from 1967-73, and as Santa Rosa County Attorney from 1977-81. Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Johnson was a loving and committed family man with an unwavering devotion to the Lord. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Milton, and he served his church in various capacities as a Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, R.A. Leader, and constant volunteer on mission trips. Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 31 years, Mary; his four sons, Robert, Jon, Bradley, and Steven; fourteen grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. To some, T. Sol Johnson will be remembered as a world class attorney of impeccable repute. To others, he will be remembered as a leader in the Northwest Florida community. To his friends and family, he will be remembered most fondly as a loving and devoted family man. His tireless work and immense contributions to the community cannot be overstated. Northwest Florida has truly suffered a great loss with his passing. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pride to honor the life and service of Thomas Soloman Johnson. My wife Vicki joins me in extending our most sincere condolences to the entire Johnson family.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the 100th Anniversary of Camp Walton School located in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Construction on the Camp Walton School began in 1911 by a group of local citizens who sought to ensure that their children would have a permanent location to pursue their education. Located in historic downtown Fort Walton Beach, the school opened in 1912 with 15 students and one teacher. The one-room schoolhouse held classes for eight grades. In 1927, a second room was added to the schoolhouse for students in grades 9 through 12. The Camp Walton School continued to serve as a bastion of education until 1936, when a hurricane damaged the school. After the hurricane of 1936, the local residents decided to build a new school for their community; however, the Camp Walton School building continued to be used by the local community. During World War II, the building served as an apartment house for several families. In 1974, the building's owners donated the Camp Walton School to the Junior Service League to restore it to its original status and preserve it as a historic museum. The Junior Service League, in conjunction with the Okaloosa County School Board, completed the restoration of the Camp Walton School in 1976 when it was reopened to the public. The City of Fort Walton Beach assumed operation of the Camp Walton School in 1986, and since that time, it has come to serve thousands of local students and visitors from across the United States and around the world. The Camp Walton School is an important historical piece of the Northwest Florida community, and in 2010 it was placed on the National Register of Country Schools. Education is the foundation for future success, and it has served as one of the cornerstones of our nation. The citizens of the Fort Walton Beach community realized this important fact and came together to ensure that their children had a suitable location to pursue their studies. One hundred years later, the Camp Walton School still stands as a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together to preserve its history. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to recognize the 100th Birthday Celebration of Camp Walton Schoolhouse. With the dedication and commitment of the Fort Walton Beach Community, this historic site will continue to teach future generations about their shared history and inspire them to achieve great success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Northwest Florida's beloved Paula Riggs. Mrs. Riggs was a dedicated public servant, a staple in the community, and all of Northwest Florida mourns her passing. Paula Riggs was born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba while her father was serving our nation in the United States Navy. As the daughter of a naval officer, her family moved around often; however, her parents instilled in Mrs. Riggs an everlasting love and affection for their native home in Northwest Florida. Her interest in public service began at a young age, when she would spend hours with her uncle Harold Goodwin, a former mayor of DeFuniak Springs, listening and learning. After receiving her college degree from the University of North Florida, Paula Riggs decided to move her family to Northwest Florida to raise her four children along the Gulf Coast. Mrs. Riggs was a loving and devoted mother to her children, and she was also known throughout her community as a true neighbor who offered her kindness to all those she knew. She became a successful small business owner, before joining the Mary Esther City Council in 1995. Mrs. Riggs' had a deep commitment to helping those who were most in need of assistance, and she continued her service to Northwest Florida in 1998 when she was elected as a County Commissioner for Okaloosa County, Florida. As a County Commissioner she was known for her assiduous work ethic and steadfast commitment to improving the community. In addition to her service on the County Commission, she served as Chairman of the Okaloosa-Walton County Transportation Planning Organization, as well as Chairman of the State Library Council, and her hard work and leadership earned her an appointment by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the Intergovernmental Relations Legislative Council. Although she was forced to step down from her position on the County Commission in 2004 due to illness, she remained a steadfast presence in the community. To some, Paula Riggs will be remembered as a dedicated public servant and a successful small business owner. To others, she will be remembered as a generous and caring neighbor always willing to lend a hand. To her family, she will most fondly be remembered as a wonderful and loving mother to her four children and an inspiration to her two grandchildren. Her impact on Northwest Florida was immense, and her legacy will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pride to honor the life and service of Paula Riggs. My wife Vicki joins me in extending our most sincere condolences to the entire Riggs family.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 55) directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1627, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the gentleman for the question. It allows me to reassure those veterans and family members in the strongest terms possible that this language, which does appear in section 1787(b)(3) of title 38 of the U.S. Code, absolutely does not--does not--require that any suit be filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act in order to secure this medical care as long as they meet the other requirements of the bill. As you have noticed, that provision only requires exhaustion of ``reasonably available'' remedies. In the legislation, we are explicit that we want this care to be provided for family members even though at the present time, there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the illnesses or conditions listed in the bill are attributable to those exposures. For this and other reasons surrounding litigation under the Federal Tort Claims Act, such an FTCA remedy can't be considered to be ``reasonably available.'' To require exhaustion under the Federal Tort Claims Act would go completely against the intent of this piece of legislation to make this medical care available to these family members for these conditions so long as VA is considered the final payer as far as other third-party health plans.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I will reserve the balance of my time at this point.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have one other speaker that had a late train that I was trying to wait on, but apparently he is not going to be able to make it. So I am prepared to close after Mr. Michaud closes.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, if we could go ahead and do the colloquy at this time, that way we'll make sure it's in the Record.