Jeff Miller

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 1407, as amended, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. This is an annual bill that authorizes a cost-of-living increase in veterans' disability compensation, veterans' clothing allowance, and dependency and indemnity compensation for veterans' survivors. This increase is tied to the increase in the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries. I'm also glad that the committee was able to include H.R. 1671, the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act, to the end of this bill at the full committee markup. This amendment was introduced by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley). It provides a 5-year extension for the VA to provide specially adapted housing assistance to individuals residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member. Unless it is extended, this program will expire on September 30 of this year. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1407, as amended. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1407) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2011, 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, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the gentleman for his kind words. I look forward to working with him on his issues and other bills that will come before our committee in the future. At this time, Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan).

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I would invite my good friend to visit Florida's great northwest sometime in the winter, where thousands of people live like millions wish they could. So you're welcome any time. General Leave

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan, Dr. Benishek, an able member of our committee and this subcommittee.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield such time as he may consume to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman).

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1657 and H.R. 1383, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1657, a bill to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. Madam Speaker, Public Law 109-461 created new opportunities for these service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and the veteran-owned small businesses to be afforded contract work with the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, this bill had the unintended consequence of encouraging unscrupulous business owners to fraudulently claim to be a veteran or service-disabled veteran-owned small business in order to get those VA contracts. H.R. 1657 would add teeth to the VA's enforcement abilities by requiring the Secretary to debar any company that fraudulently claims to be a service-disabled veteran-owned business for no less than 5 years. The debarment would also apply to the business' principals. I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman) for introducing this much-needed piece of legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1657) to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I once again encourage all Members to support H.R. 1383, as amended. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am now happy to yield such time as he may consume to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, the fine gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman).

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 1383, as amended, the Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011. This bill would temporarily increase the Post-9/11 GI Bill program's national cap on tuition and fees paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs on behalf of certain veterans pursuing programs of education at non-public institutions of higher learning from $17,500 to $27,000. The original Post-9/11 GI Bill that became effective on August 1, 2009, required VA to pay 100 percent of the tuition and fee charges up to a maximum cap that is based on a State's most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition and fee charges at a public institution of higher learning on behalf of a veteran with at least 36 cumulative months of active duty since September 11, 2001. Veterans with fewer months of service since that day of infamy would get a proportionally smaller amount. The maximum payment would apply to veterans attending both public and private degree-granting institutions of higher learning. As a result of basing tuition and fee payments on the in-state undergraduate rate, VA made tuition and fee payments well in excess of $20,000 annually on behalf of veterans attending private institutions in States with high tuition and fee charges at State schools. In addition to tuition and fee payments, the new GI Bill provides a monthly living stipend. The stipend is the same amount paid to an E-5, generally the pay grade of a sergeant or petty officer second class, at the ``with-dependents'' rate in the zip code of the school the veteran is attending. For example, a veteran attending the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, receives $1,881 per month for the 2010-2011 school year. The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, which was passed on December 16 of last year, made several changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Those changes included a national cap of $17,500 on tuition and fee payments for veterans attending non-public institutions, effective August 1, 2011. The $4.1 billion Pay-As-You-Go cost of providing those changes was met by reducing education benefits in some areas. For example, a $17,500 cap on tuition and fees paid on behalf of veterans attending private schools was instituted to help pay for expanded eligibility for other veterans. Although the cap of $17,500 a year will be a potential increase in payments for veterans in most States, some veterans attending non- public schools in seven states--New York, Texas, Arizona, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina--will see their tuition and fees payments reduced by thousands of dollars. Reducing tuition and fee payments could force veterans in these States to find non-GI Bill resources such as loans, grants or employment income to pay tuition and fees. To counter the coming reduction, H.R. 1383, as amended, would temporarily increase the cap on tuition and fees from $17,500 up to $27,000 for 3 years beginning the 1st of August of 2011. This increase would apply only to veterans who were enrolled in non-public institutions of higher learning before April 1, 2011. I believe it is only fair that we grandfather in these veterans. To meet statutory Pay-As-You-Go offset requirements, the manager's amendment to H.R. 1383 would extend existing loan fee requirements associated with the subsequent use of a VA loan guarantee for 1 year at slightly higher rates than would otherwise apply. Although not perfect, I believe this offset is dwarfed by the $4.1 billion in offsets from veterans' education benefits passed by the House last December with only three Members voting in opposition. I would also note that the veterans' community has previously supported similar offsets when used to improve veterans' benefits as is being done in H.R. 1383. Madam Speaker, this bill is supported by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Military Officers Association of America, Student Veterans of America, AMVETS, and the Reserve Officers Association. I would like to include these letters of support in the Record. I believe the alternative seen in the manager's amendment meets the concerns expressed by Members desiring as minimal an impact as possible on our veterans. I encourage all Members to support H.R. 1383, as amended. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Washington, DC. Hon. Jeff Miller, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Miller: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) strongly supports H.R. 1383 to temporarily preserve higher rates for programs of education at non-public institutions of higher learning pursued by individual enrolled in the Post- 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Post 9/11 GI Bill will be remembered as one of the shrewdest investments in our country's veterans for generations to come. The recent improvements to the Post 9/11 GI Bill will allow an additional 400,000 Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans to fully utilize their hard earned GI Bill benefits. While a historic upgrade to GI Bill benefits, these reforms caused benefits for a small number of student veterans to drop. This bill will insure that veterans currently utilizing their GI Bill at our nation's most expensive institutions are not left behind and can complete their education. We have history on our side. After the World War II GI Bill was enacted, Congress had to pass improvements to forge our country's smartest investment. IAVA believes that just like the WWII GI Bill, the Post- 9/11 GI Bill, with these improvements in H.R. 1383, will help build the next greatest generation. If we can be of any help in advancing H.R. 1333 please contact Tim Embree at (202) 544-7692 or tim@iava.org. We look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1627, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I too want to thank my good friend from New York (Mr. Weiner) for his fine work on this piece of legislation. I am proud to have it in the bill today at this particular time of the year, in the month of May. General Leave

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1627, as amended, a bill to provide for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes. H.R. 1627, as amended, is a bipartisan bill that contains several provisions related to Arlington National Cemetery which were originally included in H.R. 1627, H.R. 1441, H. Con. Res. 12, and H. Con. Res. 45. H.R. 1441, introduced by Mr. Runyan, codifies regulations and policies that bar reservations for burial or interment at Arlington National Cemetery made on or after January 1, 1962. There was broad support for this legislation at the committee's legislative hearing, and we have included two changes that Arlington management raised with the original text of the bill. The bill, as amended, also includes additional transparency to the process of waivers for new monuments at Arlington. Under the process set up in the bill, as amended, whenever the Secretary of the Army approves a monument in compliance with the criteria set forth in the bill, Congress must immediately be notified of the decision. Congress then has 60 days to pass a resolution opposing the Secretary's position. This provides a clear check and balance on the Secretary's decision while removing the added time that it usually takes for Congress to pass a resolution in support of the waiver, as required by the current process. The bill, as amended, also includes H. Con. Res. 12, which expresses the sense of Congress that an appropriate site on Chaplains Hill in Arlington National Cemetery be provided for a memorial marker to honor the memory of Jewish chaplains who died while on active duty. The honor of this monument for these brave servicemembers is long overdue, and I am especially glad we were able to pass this resolution during the month of May, which is Jewish American Heritage Month. Finally, the bill as amended includes H. Con. Res. 45, which I introduced, honoring the service and sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving in, or who have served in, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. As we observe Memorial Day next week, I believe it is very appropriate to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of these veterans and servicemembers from our most recent conflicts. I urge all Members to support H.R. 1627, as amended. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1627) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel on its 50th Jubilee. In 1961, Naval Air Station Pensacola, the ``Cradle of Naval Aviation,'' dedicated the Memorial Chapel during a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Naval Aviation. Today, during this centennial year of Naval Aviation, it is fitting that we recognize the 50th anniversary of the Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel. As a testimony to the love of God and Country that is shared among many in the Northwest Florida military community, the chapel continues to stand as a place of worship, guidance and support to military families. In the 50 years since its opening, thousands of members of the Armed Forces have been joined in marriage, and in celebration of its golden anniversary, all couples who were married at the chapel have been invited to return and renew their vows. John ``J.R.'' and Sharon Arthur, the first couple married at the chapel, will return this weekend to make the ceremonial walk up the aisle on behalf of all who have been married there over the years. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel and all the couples returning to renew their vows this weekend. My wife Vicki and I wish them all the best. May the Spirit of the Lord continue to bless the chapel. I am certain this anniversary is the first of many milestones to come.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I'll make this very brief. Congratulations. It was a great day to be out there. I promise to those on our side of the aisle we will not be handicapped next year by only shooting .410 slugs. We will use shotguns with open chokes. It was a great day. It went to a good cause for those that enjoy the outdoors, conservation, and the environment. I appreciate the opportunity to chair the Republican side of the Sportsman's Caucus. Congratulations to our friends. I was in the team right behind Bennie Thompson. Bennie, we're going to get you on our side. Congratulations.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs may have until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2011, to file its reports to accompany the following bills: H.R. 1407, H.R. 1484, H.R. 1627, H.R. 1383, H.R. 1657, and H.R. 802.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.