Ciro Rodriguez

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1132, as amended.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, veterans with service-related disabilities deserve not only our admiration, but also our support. This is why today I rise in strong support of H.R. 327, H.R. 797 and H.R. 1284, a series of bills assisting our service men and women. H.R. 327, The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act will require the Veterans' Affairs Department to develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. Last year a survey study conducted among Army and Marine combat units returning from Iraq and Afghanistan found that one in eight troops reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Moreover, less than half of these soldiers experiencing symptoms sought professional help, primarily out of fear of being stigmatized by peers or hurting their military careers. With PTSD comes feelings of estrangement from others, loss of satisfaction in previously satisfying activities, and the feeling of hopelessness about the future. It is no wonder then, that veterans suffer a higher risk of suicide. This bill, H.R. 327, is an important step in the right direction to ending the soldiers' stigma for seeking help, and gives hope to thousands of veterans and their families coping with the costs of war. Like H.R. 327, The Veterans Vision Equity Act (H.R. 797), is intended to providing our patriots with the care they deserve. H.R. 797 would change current law to provide veterans who receive disability compensation because of blindness in one eye, additional benefits if they are visually impaired in the second eye. This bill provides only a small change to the current code, yet it would aid an estimated 13,200 veterans in getting proper compensation for their disability. We blessed with vision often take our sight for granted, but the loss of one's sight no doubt requires an altering of lifestyle. Indeed, the sights that once filled eyes with beauty are regulated to memories and perceived only in the imagination. Many of our veterans are coping with such a change, and this bill is important in supporting their transition. Finally there is H.R. 1284, The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007. This bill would provide an increase in the rate of compensation for disabled veterans, as well as provide an increase in rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for these veterans' families. The baby-boom generation understands why this bill is necessary: costs are going up. When I was young five dollars could buy you dinner and take you to the movies--now it can buy you a can of soda and chips. Indeed, inflation is slowly but surely driving up costs for basic goods and services. It is important that we meet our obligations to our veterans by providing them with benefits commensurate to their service. H.R. 1284 would achieve just that. We are a nation at war. As such, now more than ever, maintaining the well-being of our veterans is paramount. Already, we have asked for so much from our service men and women, and now it is time that we return the favor. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting our troops and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 327, H.R. 797 and H.R. 1284.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, since The Washington Post broke the story on Building 18 at Walter Reed, we have heard similar stories of unacceptably bad conditions at other facilities around the country. While The Post should be commended for bringing the information to this Nation, it should never have gotten to this point. Last week, we also learned that some Republican colleagues knew of these conditions and basically did nothing. This response of doing nothing is not acceptable. Rather than inquiring about such bad conditions and deciding to do something, they choose to brush it off and basically bring it under the table. And rather than finding out who was responsible for the housing of our troops that had mold, that had mice and cockroaches, the administration chose to look the other way. Doing nothing is not acceptable. Last week, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, which I sit on, held hearings, and will continue to hold hearings, on the treatment of our wounded soldiers throughout this country. We want to see the widespread problems that exist corrected, and we recognize the seriousness. It is time for us to do the right thing for our soldiers.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the Water Quality Financing Act, an act that is essential for our country. For the past 4 years, the water quality needs of our Nation's communities and my constituents have been neglected. Rural communities along the Texas-Mexican border in my district do not have the resources or the financial capacity to renovate existing water treatment plans and to construct sewage management systems. These are basic issues in our country where people are still having difficulty getting access to potable water. I have already heard from the small cities of Sabinal, Clint, Fort Stockton, Presidio, and Fort Hancock, Texas, all of which are in desperate need of assistance with their wastewater management. These and many other communities stand to benefit significantly from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. This legislation will authorize a significant increase in funding for the fund, allowing these communities, like those in my district and throughout this country, to secure loans and begin work on the water improvement programs that are needed for our citizens. I ask you to support this specific legislation that allows these individuals to be able to get access to good, potable water.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, as a proud Texan, I rise this afternoon in support of H.R. 584 in naming the Department of Education Headquarters Building in Washington, D.C. after the first ``Education President,'' President Lyndon B Johnson. Like myself, President Johnson began his career in the field of education and, like me, he also had to borrow money in order to attend college. In 1927, he borrowed $75, as indicated by the previous speaker, to attend the Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos, Texas. He temporarily dropped out of school to serve also as a principal and teacher, and he taught at a school in South Texas in La Salle County in a city by the name of Cotulla, which is a city that I had the pleasure of representing while I was representing the 28th Congressional District. There he taught a good number of Mexican Americans as a young man. On August 19, 1930, President Johnson graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Science and continued teaching at Pearsall High School, also in the 28th Congressional District that I served. Pioneering the importance of education as our President, on April 11, 1965, Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which was the first Federal general aid to education law and focused on disadvantaged children, both in inner cities and rural communities throughout this country. Madam Speaker, President Johnson has no Federal buildings in the District of Columbia named after him, and since he enacted over 60 education bills in his term, including the Economic Opportunity Act, Head Start, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (title I) and the Higher Education Act, (beginning student loan program), the Department of Education building is a fitting honor for President LBJ. I urge my colleagues in joining me in passing H.R. 584.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act. Now, more than ever, American workers need effective bargaining tools to negotiate with their employers for higher wages, safer working conditions and better benefits. As the income gap between the wealthy and the middle class widens, it becomes more important to protect and support American workers. Being part of a union can provide invaluable benefits to American workers. According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics the median weekly income for unionized workers is 30 percent higher than that of non-union employees. We need to facilitate organization among workers, not impede it. The card check method authorized by this legislation will help to do just that. For decades, workers have had the right to join a union and for that union to be recognized. Secret ballots have been beneficial in determining support for unions in the past, but a growing number of reports of worker intimidation and even job termination prove that secret ballots are no longer enough. Secret ballot elections, a sacred and long-held tradition in American government, take on vastly different consequences in the workplace. Such elections often follow widespread harassment and coercion and the results become a byproduct of the fear and intimidation initiated by employers. If an election process cannot be conducted in a fair manner, then we must provide a legal alternative for unionization. This legal alternative is the card check method authorized by the Employee Free Choice Act, which will allow employees to express their support for unions without being subject to anti-union propaganda leading up to a secret ballot. This legislation also enacts strict penalties that will deter employers from abusing and manipulating their workers. Our workers deserve the rights and protections that are required by the Employee Free Choice Act.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 42. Anne Richards's devotion to the state of Texas deserves our highest honor and commendation. Her work to promote the rights of women in politics, devotion to equality and her never-failing drive to better the lives of her constituents made her an iconic figure in Texas politics. Governor Richards began her political career in the 1970's fighting for equality. As an advocate for female politicians, she managed Sarah Weddington's successful bid to become a member of the Texas State House of Representatives. She then joined State Representative Weddington as a legislative assistant in 1974, during this time she also participated in Wilhelmina Delco's campaign to become the first African-American to represent Austin in the state legislature. Not content to rest there, she provided training sessions across the state for female candidates and managers. She would continue this fight for equality for the next 20 years. In 1982 she was elected to the post of state treasurer becoming the first woman elected to state-wide office in more than 50 years. She devoted herself to the modernization of the state treasury and to earning the greatest possible interest for the state of Texas. According to one estimate, the treasury earned 1.8 billion dollars under her leadership, representing a huge improvement over her predecessor. During her tenure she displayed the incredible wit that made her such a powerful public speaker and one of the most popular figures in Texas politics. After two terms as state treasurer she was elected Governor of the state of Texas in 1990. What she accomplished in her four years as Governor was nothing short of amazing. Among the achievements for which we are honoring her here today, she revitalized the Texan economy, achieving growth during a period of national economic decline. She revamped the Texas prison system to improve rehabilitation for inmates and to better protect the citizens of Texas by establishing a substance abuse program for inmates, working to expand capacity and reduce prison overpopulation, and reducing the number of violent offenders released. The Texas Lottery was also instituted during Governor Richards' time in office as a means to supplement school financing Education and school financing were focal points of her Governorship. She worked tirelessly to make school funding more equitable across districts and championed ``sitebased management'' programs to decentralize school administration. Of her nearly 3,000 government appointments, 46 percent were female, 15 percent were black, 20 percent were Hispanic and 2 percent were Asian American. I rise today to honor her commitment to diversity, her battle for equality, and her lifetime of service to the state of Texas and the United States of America.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan resolution that expresses disapproval of the President's escalation of troops in Iraq. In October of 2002, I stood on this floor in this House and voted against giving the President authority to wage war in Iraq. And I did so because I strongly believed that Congress should not abdicate its war powers and hand over to the President a blank check on the war. I also recognized, having served on the Armed Services Committee and on the Terrorist Task Force prior to 9/11, that the evidence was not there. I may not agree with how this war has been handled, but I, along with everyone here and all of my colleagues on both sides, firmly stand by our troops. It is our servicemen and -women who are making a great sacrifice on the battlefield on behalf of all of us here in this Chamber and everyone across the United States. And they, the troops, all deserve our unequivocal support. This war is creating a new generation of veterans and a new generation of needs for them. Today, over 25,000 both dead and wounded have been reported, while this body continues to appropriate billions of dollars to the administration for this war. Let us remember our veterans and the cost to fulfill the promise that we have made to them for medical care. Today, the issue is not whether we were right or wrong to grant the President such broad authority in regards to this war in Iraq, but instead how he has exercised that power, what the results have been, and what his plans are for the future. We have now entered the fifth year of this war. And I ask you, what progress have we made? What is our exit strategy? It is not a new question. It was a question that was raised from the very beginning when we went into this war, and when we raised it in the Armed Services Committee. This war and the reckless strategy behind it have cost us Americans some $532 billion, and over 3,100 American lives, as well as over 3,000 serious injuries. It has resulted in increased sectarian violence and an uncertain future in Iraq. Madam Speaker, I think most of us here know that we need a new direction, and a new direction is justified. I can assure you that the American people want a new direction. But what the President has offered to them is more of the same. The President is now asking for a massive escalation of over 20,000 troops. The escalation plan will not work, just like the previous troop surges that we have had have not worked. Madam Speaker, the American people have asked and have had enough. And with an up-and-down vote on this resolution, this Congress will not only send a message to the President regarding his misguided policy, but also send a message to the American people that their Congress is listening, it is here, and it is calling for a new direction. I oppose this escalation plan because more troops in combat means more casualties and more loss of American lives. I have been to Walter Reed Medical Center, and I have seen our injured young men and women coming back from the battlefield. I have seen the sacrifice of what this war has done to our families and our loved ones. Earlier this week, my office was visited by Mr. Jim Goodnow. He is a veteran from my district and an active member of the Veterans for Peace. Mr. Goodnow has traveled all over the country from his home base in Terlinqua, Texas, aboard his bus dubbed the Yellow Rose. He has been spreading the message of peace for many years. Mr. Goodnow is not alone. And with this resolution we want to make it clear that this Congress and America and the American people have had enough. No more blank checks, no more violence, and no more escalation. Madam Speaker, it is time that we stand by our country and stand up for our troops. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to stand here today and report to the American people that we have completed the 100-hours agenda. We are demonstrating that we have kept our promise. We have set a tone for the 110th Congress that is one of cooperation, consensus, and compromise that extends beyond party lines. From the ethics reforms to restoring fiscal responsibility, to strengthening our national security, to giving more Americans a realistic shot at the American Dream, the new Democratic majority is committed to real and lasting results for the people that we serve. On the opening days of the Congress, January 4, we adopted the most sweeping ethics package since the post-Watergate era. We restored tough pay-as-you-go budget rules, which will begin to reverse the record budget deficits that are passing on trillions of dollars to our children and grandchildren. We all recognize how important that is. We recognize that we are some $8.6 trillion in debt, that each one now owes over $29,000. In fact, every child born now owes some $29,000 in order for us to pay the debt. In the remainder of the first 100 hours, we have turned to passing the Six for '06 agenda to meet the everyday needs of all Americans. We made America safer by the passage of a bill that implements the recommendation of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, which were submitted by Congress in 2004. We are extremely proud of that particular piece of legislation, because it allows us to address those needs that were identified by the commission, needs, especially, in south Texas, as we know, on border security, that are critical, other needs, such significant, although they might be considered not so important, but the importance of the agencies to be able to communicate with each other that was found to be one of the most difficult problems that we have still, but have not confronted. We made our economy fair by passing a bill that increases the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over the next 2 years, affecting approximately 900,000 employees in Texas. Texas is hit the hardest with this, with the minimum wage; and we are extremely proud to have passed that piece of legislation. It also impacts some of 28.6 percent of the jobs that pay below the Federal poverty line in Texas. We have improved health care by passing and extending the Federal funding for lifesaving embryonic stem cell research, which will help 110 million Americans suffering from diseases. We have helped to make health care more affordable by passing a bill that directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct cost savings negotiations with the drug companies for lower prices for Medicare beneficiaries. That is essential. The way the legislation has been written is basically un-American, not allowing us to bargain with the pharmaceutical companies to get lower prices, very similar to what the VA does now. We know that they are able to get prices at 60 percent lower than what we can for our seniors under Medicare. This particular piece of legislation is going to be out there, and it is going to help all of us, and especially the taxpayer that has to pay for Medicare. So we are extremely proud to have passed that piece of legislation in the last 100 hours. We also make college more affordable by passing a bill that cuts the interest rates on subsidized student loans for undergraduates in half over the next 5 years. This is particularly important, also, for Hispanic Americans, since 50 percent of Latinos, undergrads, receive Federal aid affecting some 205,000 students throughout this country. We are extremely proud to have done that. The interest rates on those loans for those students is essential, that we can lower them to a level where it has a direct impact on the cost of higher education. We also know that tuition has been increasing. No one knows that better than parents and young people that are going to college. We set America on the path to energy independence by passing a bill that repeals $14 billion in subsidies to big oil and gas companies and invests those funds, instead, in clean, renewable energy resources and alternative fuels. This is just the beginning of the work we are going to be doing. I am really pleased.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity first of all on the charges that were made on the other side indicating that the prices for the veterans would rise is false and not correct. H.R. 4 does not require that the manufacturers extend the VA prices to Medicare. Why we are here today is to make sure that our seniors are well taken care of, to make sure that they are having the same opportunities that our veterans would have. What's wrong with allowing our taxpayers to have a better rate? What's wrong with allowing our seniors to have better rates? Those are the most vulnerable of our communities. I ask you to vote ``aye'' on this bill.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the minimum wage and indicate to you that it is time that we take this measure and make it happen. Let me thank Chairman Miller on his efforts and just indicate to you that the State of Texas is the one that has the most to gain. We have over 900,000 such workers that would be impacted by this piece of legislation. And, for those, let me also indicate that in Texas nearly 70 percent of low-wage employees work full time. I will repeat that. Seventy percent of low-wage employees work full time. And, among those, almost 40 percent of the low-wage workers are sole breadwinners. Forty percent are sole breadwinners. So this is something that is critical. This is something that is important, something that needs to happen. The minimum wage increase improves the economic well-being of our families. It provides for better living conditions and improving the quality of life. And I cannot comprehend why Members of Congress that have been here over 10 years, who have voted on their own increase each time, and yet not allow an opportunity for individuals that are in the lowest part of the wages in this country be able to get a pay increase.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, last week I had the opportunity of visiting Taiwan, the Republic of China and I was very impressed with what I saw. Taiwan has clearly grown to be a modern democracy and its people are well educated and prosperous. The people whom I talked to were all friendly toward us and supportive of our global war against terrorism. In fact, I was most impressed with Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian. This young statesman was reelected president of the Republic of China last March and was inaugurated on May 20. In my conversation with him, he said again and again that he is seeking a genuine dialogue with the leaders of the People's Republic of China. He said Taiwan does not seek confrontation but a friendly dialogue with mainland China leading to talks on all issues. President Chen would like to see more cooperation and less confrontation in dealing with mainland China leaders. In addition to its ``relationship'' with mainland China, President Chen considers Taiwan's relations with the U.S. a matter of utmost importance and he would like to see further strengthening of this relationship. I personally believe that Taiwanese people are truly lucky to have President Chen as their leader for the next four years. I am delighted that Taiwan is now ably represented in Washington by its young and energetic ambassador, Dr. David Lee. Ambassador Lee knows Washington well and he will most certainly strengthen the ever-growing bonds between Taipei and Washington. Taiwan and the United States,. I wish to assure both President Chen and Ambassador Lee, have always stood together shoulder to shoulder and will always remain strong partners in maintaining peace and stability. I had a good visit to Taiwan and I hope my colleagues and my fellow countrymen will follow my steps in visiting this beautiful island of freedom and prosperity soon and often.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2486, the Veterans Benefit Improvement Act, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith), as well as the gentleman from Illinois (Ranking Member Evans) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Benefits, for their leadership in this particular issue. One of the best things about being a member of this committee is the ability to pass a comprehensive bill, a benefits bill, every year while keeping on with the PAYGO provisions. Although I was worried this particular year that that might not happen, I am glad that our colleagues in the Senate and the staff of our committees worked out this compromise. Mr. Speaker, this bill has many wonderful provisions that would enhance the benefits of our veterans, National Guardsmen and their families receive, including additional educational benefits. With passage of this particular piece of legislation, veterans will be able to use their Montgomery GI bill for apprenticeships and on-the- job training, as well as national admissions exams. I am very pleased that this bill acknowledges the rewards and sacrifices many of our Reservists are making. With the passage of this particular piece of legislation, those men and women, Reservists who are called to active duty for more than 24 consecutive months, will be able to pay into the GI bill and become eligible for benefits. This bill also includes some enhanced VA home loan language, which I know the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis), my colleague, has been advocating for. Like all Americans, our veterans dream of obtaining the American dream of homeownership. Our veterans have fought selflessly on behalf of our country and are entitled to the benefits we have promised them, including home loan benefits. Unfortunately, for many, this dream is faced with many obstacles. The current VA home loan limit of $240,000 prevents many veterans from using their loan benefits to purchase a home in high-cost areas, such as in California or Florida and parts of the State of Texas. This legislation indexes the maximum loan amount to 100 percent of the Freddie Mac conforming loan rate to make the VA home loans compatible with the home loans available to the public nationwide. Additionally, this legislation allows the maximum VA loan amounts to adjust automatically each year to Freddie Mac standards in order to remain compatible with the national housing markets. This legislation is extremely important. During 2003, 3 million veterans took advantage of the VA home loans, and I am positive more veterans will be able to take advantage of this particular benefit because of the improvements we are making today. As our troops are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, we must continue to show them the thanks of a grateful Nation. I cannot think of a better way of saying thank you than improving the benefits of our soldiers, and so by this particular legislation, although there are many benefits we would like to take advantage of for our veterans, I am glad that the committee has been able to work with the money to make this happen.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3936, the Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act of 2004. I want to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his efforts, the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) also, as well as the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) of the Subcommittee on Health, and the House and Senate committee staffs for addressing some of the concerns raised in earlier pieces of this legislation. We now have a bill which I am pleased to lend my support to. The bill includes provisions from a bill I introduced, H.R. 3849, the Military Sexual Trauma Counseling Act of 2004 to permanently extend VA's authority to provide counseling and treatment for the women and men who have experienced sexual trauma during their service in the military. Current authority for the program expires at the end of this year. Therefore, it is critical that we pass this legislation today. Overwhelming demand has been demonstrated for this program. Thousands of veterans, in addition to Reservists and National Guardsmen, have taken advantage of the resources available to them. As the number of women serving in the military continue to grow, the need for the program is sadly more evident. Already we hear media reports that more than 100 troops returning from both Iraq and Afghanistan have stated that they were raped during their service. Although it is unfortunate that we need this particular program, I am pleased we are now on the road to ensuring that we will have these services for current and future veterans. Again, I would like to thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) for his leadership and cooperation in including the Military Sexual Trauma Program in this bill. I also thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member, for their support. I am also supportive of the provisions to increase the funding levels available for the homeless grant and the per diem programs from $75 million to $99 million for 2005. We still have a very long way to go in meeting the Congress's goals to eliminating chronic homelessness by 2011, and this bill can help us get there. This particular legislation also includes a provision that will require the Secretary of the VA to establish and maintain an inventory of the medical waste management activities in VA facilities, including inventory, regulatory violations and plans for management improvements. We believe the VA should be on the frontline of environmental protection policies, and these provisions help to make that happen. There are provisions also from our Senate counterparts in this bill, including a requirement that the VA report annually through 2007 on veterans waiting more than 3 months for scheduled appointments in specialty care and the reasons for these delays. This measure also requires the Secretary of the VA to establish a pilot program to study innovative recruitment tools to address the nursing shortage within the VA. We must be able to recruit and retain well-qualified nurses to care for our veterans. This pilot will help the VA Health Administration identify and adopt the best practices of private industries in hiring of well-qualified nurses. Now the largest provider of long-term care to our Nation's veterans, the State veterans' home system plays a vital role in caring for the growing number of aging veterans. This bill will authorize VA to make payments to assist State veterans' homes in hiring and retaining nurses, to help care for our aging veterans, and adds a clarification that per diem payments made by the VA to State veterans' homes are not to be used to offset or reduce third-party payments, such as Medicaid, made to assist veterans. There are a high number of veterans returning home that have injuries from the war in both Iraq and Afghanistan. This measure authorizes the establishment of four cooperative centers for research, education and clinical activities to improve the rehabilitation services available to veterans suffering from complex multi-trauma associated with combat injuries. These centers build on the Veterans Health Administration's nationally recognized care for special populations such as post- traumatic stress disorders, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, as well as visual impairment, and will prove to be most valuable in providing future combat injury rehabilitation. While the CARES process was under way, the VA health care system has managed within infrastructure that is in sore need of repair and upgrade. This bill establishes a VA Capital Asset Fund that will help strengthen our funding flow to assist the VA in developing and improving its properties. These funds will allow the VA to improve properties for disposal as well as future disposal and for minor construction. These funds also will allow the VA to use funds for improving properties. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will be given the flexibility in using funds to develop advance planning for major construction projects previously authorized and additional authority to transfer unneeded real property and retain the proceeds from the transfer. The bill authorizes $10 million to be appropriated to the Capital Asset Fund where it can be used for these purposes. Mr. Speaker, 16 major new leases are authorized in this bill, including leases throughout this country. Because many of the VA important historic buildings are poorly maintained or falling apart, I am pleased that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded that the VA should use funds to preserve historic properties. It is the committee's intent for VA to provide a series of reports to address its large inventory of these registered assets. This legislation will extend the VA authority to provide care to the veterans participating in long-term care pilot programs which were previously authorized until December, 2005. This is a bill that we all should be very proud of. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and an activist in pushing forward on issues regarding veterans.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis).

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me say that this particular piece of legislation is extremely important. I know, as has been mentioned, the importance of the number of veterans that are still estimated to be homeless, some 299,000 veterans out there that sleep under the bridges, and I know that our efforts in this area will help begin to continue to decrease the number of those homeless veterans that are out there. According to the VA, 45 percent of the homeless veterans also suffer from mental health disorders. We know the importance of coming forth on post-traumatic stress disorder and how critical that is. And I also want to just emphasize how key and how important it is for the sexual trauma situations where we have improved in increasing the number of women in the military, and as we do that, we need to make sure that we have a good safe place for a work environment where they can feel comfortable in addition to the services that are needed.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2484, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004. I am pleased that this bill is the result of the collaboration of the House and Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs' staff working with the representatives from the VA, the National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists, and the American Federation of Government Employees. This legislation has been a long time coming and provides much needed updated improvements in how the VA physicians and dentists are compensated. The VA's current system of pay for physicians and dentists has not been modified since 1991 and has not kept up with the compensation for doctors in the private and academic sectors. According to the testimony from the VA in June of this year, the effects of the noncompetitive pay and benefits are reflected in the dramatic increases in the VA's reliance on expensive, scarce medical specialist contracts and fee-based care. This bill establishes two components that make up the physician's total salary and also incorporates additional performance pay. Under this new system, base pay for doctors is comprised of 15 steps. Physicians automatically move up one step every 2 years, so a doctor's base pay is based on the number of years he or she has worked in the VA health care system. Step increases in base pay are another way of rewarding the VA doctors for their long-term commitment to caring for our veterans. The second component of this particular bill is market pay as set by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and will be determined according to geographic areas, specialty or assignment, board certifications, and experience. The VA will rely on national surveys to establish market pay comparable bands, which are then to be published in the Federal Register. Market pay helps the VA achieve comparability with the private sector. Performance pay makes up the final tier of this new system and is a result of the VA physicians' annual performance reviews measuring achievement as well as attainment of VA ``corporate'' goals. This bipartisan bill also contains special pay for the VA nurse executives, a bonus of between $10,000 and $25,000, which is based on several descriptive factors. This will also help further the VA's ability to recruit and retain highly qualified nurse executives and adds incentive for those nurses to move into managerial positions within the VA health care system. Since one of the major causes of dissatisfaction in the nursing workforce is inflexible work schedules, a more flexible work schedule for VA nurses is also provided in this piece of legislation. This new system of pay for VA physicians and dentists and the provisions for the nurses greatly improves the VA's ability not only to recruit, but also to retain top-quality doctors and nurses to care for our veterans. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this piece of legislation. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) for his leadership in this area and also personally thank him for his kind words. It has been rewarding working with him on this particular piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), our ranking member.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me take this opportunity also just to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) for his leadership and the bipartisan manner in which we have conducted this piece of legislation and during the last 8 years. I want to personally thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) for his hard work and for reaching out on behalf of all veterans in this country. I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons), whom I have enjoyed working with, and I want to personally thank him also for all his hard work and for coming down to San Antonio also. In the same light, I also want to thank Pat Ryan. I know that a lot of times the Members get all the credit and the staff does all the work. And I do want to thank the staff from both sides of the aisle and thank them for their hard work in a bipartisan manner. Mr. Speaker, I also want to take this opportunity to thank our ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans). From the very beginning when I first got elected, he came forth to my district in San Antonio and was there with my veterans, one of the first times; and he has helped to educate me on a lot of the issues in my district. So I want to personally thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for the opportunity of working with him, and thank him, as well as all the other veterans here for their service to our country.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4829, the legislation to honor State Representative Irma Rangel by naming the Post Office in her name in her beloved hometown of Kingsville, Texas. Irma Rangel had three careers over the course of her life. She was a teacher first, then a lawyer, then a State legislator. In each one of those roles, Irma was dedicated to helping the poor, improving the Hispanic community, reaching out to everyone, and fighting for justice and equality. I have had the honor not only of calling her a friend but also a colleague in the Texas House. During my tenure in the Texas legislature, I had the privilege of working with Representative Irma Rangel. As a colleague on the Committee on Higher Education, I saw Irma consistently fight to improve the quality and accessibility of education for not only her constituents but all students. She was a driving force in securing the passage of the 10 Percent Plan, which makes the top 10 percent of students in every high school eligible for admission to any State or college university, in the wake of the devastating Hopwood case. I would like to just mention that, during this particular case, I had filed that particular legislation, and I was very pleased to have worked directly with her. It was at that point that I got elected to the Congress, and she was able to move forward a piece of legislation that has meant tremendous advantages for both African-Americans and Latinos, in spite of the Hopwood case, and when the administration in Texas went after us on affirmative action. Her advocacy helped create the School of Pharmacy at the Texas A&M University at Kingsville, the first professional school in south Texas, now named the Irma Rangel School of Pharmacy. We all look forward to the day when the first class of the School of Pharmacy graduates from Texas A&M, Kingsville. For many young Hispanic women, she was also a trailblazer. She was the first Hispanic woman elected to the Texas legislature and the first woman to act as the chairman of the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus. I would also add, she was extremely responsible, along with a large number of others, but she was right there, because she was part of the Higher Education Committee in Texas, when we recognized the disparities that existed throughout south Texas, where we had no universities of any professional type, and we fought. We were very pleased with then Governor Ann Richards and others to be able to push forward what she made happen in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and that was the formation of a 4-year institution in Corpus Christi; the formation of a 4-year institution in Brownsville, Texas; the formation of a 4-year institution in Webb County; the expansion of the A&M downtown campus in San Antonio. During her tenure, in her efforts in higher education, she knew that those were the areas that she needed to move on. She has left a lasting legacy, and this is a tribute that will continue to remind the residents of south Texas of her strength and courage.