Phil Roe

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment sponsored by Congresswoman Kuster to require VA to establish criteria for childcare assistance for veterans who experience unusual or excessive burdens when trying to access those childcare services. Approximately 40 percent of veteran patients live in rural or highly rural areas. Those veterans have unique barriers both to healthcare and to childcare, and VA must take those barriers into consideration when it is designing this program. I thank my good friend, Congresswoman Kuster, who is a tireless advocate for veterans in New Hampshire. Congresswoman Kuster and I spent Thanksgiving a couple years ago in Afghanistan, visiting our troops. I know her love for veterans and her commitment to that and her work on this amendment. I am pleased to join her in supporting it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congressman Delgado and Congresswoman Lawrence's amendment to expand the definition of childcare services to include extended daycare programs. Many schools offer childcare in the morning or evening hours to accommodate the busy schedules of working parents. If those programs are a better fit for the children of veterans seeking childcare assistance under this bill, it only makes sense for VA to have the flexibility to use them. That said, I have questions about this amendment that I believe could have been addressed had this bill gone through regular order. For example, would this amendment permit veterans whose children are already involved in these programs to deduct a portion of the cost when they are seeking care, or does this only cover drop-in care? I am grateful to Congressman Delgado for his work on this amendment, and I hope that we can work with Chairman Takano to address these questions. Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I think we have these two amendments reversed.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Yes, I do.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would like to engage in a colloquy with Chairman Takano. I think we have these two amendments reversed.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. We voted on 15, and now we are going to 16.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Representatives Delgado, Harder, and Stefanik's amendment to include emergency mental healthcare under the definition of a covered health service. It is a tragedy and a tragic fact that approximately 20 veterans die every day by suicide. We have perhaps no greater calling on the Veterans' Affairs Committee than doing all we can do to lower and eliminate that number. A veteran in crisis must have the benefit of every available support to get them through that crisis and on a path to healing. This amendment will ensure that the lack of childcare won't be a barrier to care for a veteran in crisis. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congressman Golden and Congresswoman Kuster's amendment to expand the healthcare services under which a veteran would be eligible to receive childcare assistance to include readjustment counseling. The readjustment counseling provided through vet centers is an important component of VA's mental healthcare system of care. I commend Congressman Golden and Congresswoman Kuster for making sure that veterans in need of childcare assistance so that they can attend appointments at vet centers are able to receive that assistance. I thank Congressman Golden for his service to our great country. I think we owe the gentleman a great debt of gratitude and welcome him here to the House floor. Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment today, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment; I encourage my colleagues to support it; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congressmen Golden and Brindisi's amendment requiring a report regarding the accessibility and effectiveness of the childcare assistance program for veterans living in rural and highly rural areas. As I said earlier this morning when discussing Congresswoman Kuster's amendment, approximately 40 percent of veterans live in rural or highly rural areas. Those veterans have unique access needs, and VA must be mindful when creating this program. Mr. Chair, I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment today, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment; I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congresswoman Sherrill's amendment, which would prohibit childcare providers from providing childcare assistance under this program if they employ an individual convicted of a sex crime, an offense involving a child victim, a violent crime, or a drug felony. It would also stipulate that the requirements in this bill are not intended to lower any Federal, State, or local standards for hiring or screening childcare centers. I thank Congresswoman Sherrill for introducing this thoughtful amendment that recognizes that the children of veterans accessing childcare assistance under this bill must be cared for in the safest environment possible. This amendment is a no-brainer, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I support this commonsense amendment and encourage my colleagues to do so also. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congresswomen Sherrill, Kuster, and Moore's amendment to include mental healthcare provided for the treatment of military sexual trauma, MST, under the definition of a ``covered health service.'' Sexual trauma can have wide-ranging implications on a person's physical and mental health. I am grateful to the sponsors of this amendment for making sure that MST is specifically included in this legislation so that veterans who have suffered this terrible crime will face one less barrier to obtaining care. I am happy to support this amendment and urge all of my colleagues to join me. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congresswoman Slotkin's amendment to authorize consultation between the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans' Affairs in the implementation of this childcare assistance program. Ensuring greater collaboration between VA and DOD has long been a priority of mine, so I am pleased to support this amendment today. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I support this commonsense amendment and encourage my colleagues to do so. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.