Phil Roe

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 609) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs health care center in Center Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as the ``Abie Abraham VA Clinic''.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I think this is an amazing story that Mr. Kelly shared before us. I had a history professor in college who survived the Bataan Death March. He spent 3\1/2\ years in the same--I wonder if these two men knew each other. He, indeed, too, was a remarkable man. I can think of no better honor in Butler, Pennsylvania, than to honor his memory by naming this medical center. Once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 58, which nullifies the teacher preparation issues rule finalized by the Department of Education in October of 2016. Mr. Speaker, it is an unfortunate situation that we find ourselves in when I consistently hear from educators that they are spending more and more time trying to comply with misguided rules from the Federal Government instead of teaching our children and grandchildren. The Department of Education and the Obama administration have acted as if they know what type of teacher is best for east Tennessee instead of the people living and working there every day. I want nothing more than to have the best teachers in our classrooms teaching children all across this country, but burdensome one-size-fits-all regulations from the Federal Government that emphasize bureaucracy and compliance instead of a student education is not the way to get there. The teacher preparation regulations put forth by the Obama administration are yet another example of misguided Federal overreach that would burden schools, institutions of higher education, and States. These regulations are unfunded and would impose extensive data collection requirements on States, colleges, and universities. And one university, Mr. Speaker, in my State spends $150 million a year complying with government regulations. Under these regulations, institutions of higher education that do not meet the rules requirements could lose access to Federal financial aid, which is yet another example of the prior administration using the regulatory process to bypass the legislative process. Both the School Superintendents Association and the National Governors Association have highlighted how these regulations are a significant intrusion on the role States play in ensuring accountability for teacher preparation. The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education has indicated that these regulations are likely to exacerbate teacher shortages in areas where they are critically needed, like special education. When Congress passed on a bipartisan basis Every Student Succeeds Act, we expected the Obama administration would work to continue the momentum for giving States and local school districts the flexibility they needed to help kids learn. The administration went in the opposite direction, which is why I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I stand here in the well of the House tonight remembering 8 years ago when I stood here. I am the only one, other than Pete Olson, that was here that has spoken tonight. I actually left my medical practice of 31 years. I have been a physician--it is hard to believe--46 years. I ran for Congress because I wanted to be involved in the healthcare debate. I realize that the American people needed healthcare reform. One of the most disappointing things I have had since I have been in the U.S. Congress was, when I showed up here, I naively thought that people cared what I thought. I found out I was wrong about that. We had nine physicians in the Doctors Caucus on the Republican side in 2009, and not one of us was asked one thing about that healthcare bill. Not one Republican amendment to that bill that would have made it better was ruled in order. So it was passed on one-party rule, and now the Democrat party owns it. Unfortunately, patients own it. And that is what I came here to do, was to try to help people. I had spent 31 years of my life in the small town of Johnson City, Tennessee, practicing medicine and trying to do a good job for patients that I saw every single day. You have heard it many times before: If you liked your doctor, you can keep it. We are going to reduce your premiums by $2,500. The President also said that I will go over this bill line by line with anyone who wants to. We asked to do that on multiple occasions, and I am still waiting for my cell phone to ring. So we have heard over and over and over again that the Republicans have no ideas. Two Congresses ago we were challenged and asked to write a Republican alternative to the Affordable Care Act, and we did just that. I want to show you out there tonight--those of you who are watching-- this is the bill right here. It is a 184-page bill. You can read it in an hour or so or less than that. I read the entire Affordable Care Act. I felt like I should. I didn't pass it and see what was in it. I actually read it ahead of time. We had healthcare reform in Tennessee in the nineties called TennCare. I wrote the epitaph on this bill with Marsha Blackburn in 2010, if anyone is interested in reading that. So what did we do with this bill? With the Affordable Care Act, the Federal Government said: You will purchase 10 essential health benefits or your insurance is no good. You have to get rid of it. And this 10 essential health benefits cost, in many cases, is a lot of money. Then what do we do? We passed a tax, a mandate, a fine, a penalty, whatever Judge Roberts decided he wanted to decide that it was, or define it, I should say. But here we are passing a mandate for people to purchase something they can't afford. I find that astonishing that you tax people for something they cannot buy. So what our bill did was repeal the Affordable Care Act. It then massively expanded health savings accounts. Look, there are Indian tribes out there that use the Indian Health Service that can't have an HSA. There are disabled veterans that can't have an HSA. There are retired people that can't have HSAs. We expanded that. I have used them in my own practice for patients. I use one myself. We used high-risk pools, and we expanded ERISA benefits to help offset preexisting conditions. Quite frankly, I think in two paragraphs I could have done two-thirds of what the Affordable Care Act did, which is expand Medicaid, which is a system that needs to be reformed, and allowed 26-year-olds to stay on their parents healthcare plan. We also allow you to buy across State lines with association health plans, malpractice reforms, and transparency. It is a very simple, patient-centered bill. We have said this before, our bill is open for amendment. If a Democrat has a good idea, I am open to listen to it. The main thing is I want patients and doctors to be in charge of their healthcare decisions. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight, and I look forward to going into much more detail about the details of this particular bill.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 315, the Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, sponsored by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), a fellow OB/GYN and chairman of the Health Caucus. One of the easiest ways to ensure a safer and healthier pregnancy experience for both mother and child is through adequate maternity care. Unfortunately, there are pockets across the United States where women do not have access to needed OB/GYN care, which puts both mothers and babies at risk should a complication arise. As an OB/GYN who spent 31 years in practice, I find it unacceptable that 1 million babies are born to mothers who did not receive adequate prenatal care. Without that proper care, babies born to these mothers are three times more likely to be born at a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than babies whose mothers did receive adequate maternity care. With a large number of OB/GYNs nearing retirement age and a female population expected to increase by 36 percent by 2050, there is no more important time than now to ensure adequate access to maternity care for all mothers, no matter where they live. A woman living in rural east Tennessee or rural Texas should have the same access to adequate maternity care as someone living in the city of Nashville, Memphis, Dallas, or wherever. I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation that would require the Health Resources and Services Administration to designate maternity healthcare professional shortage areas and target maternity care resources where they are most needed, helping to ensure healthier pregnancies and healthier babies. It was my job as an OB/GYN to make sure that mothers and their children were healthy during and after pregnancy, and I feel very strongly about that duty now that I am here in Congress. While this bill will not solve the entire shortage crisis, I think this bill is a meaningful start. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McClintock for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this very important procedural measure to site the memorial to honor the men and women who served and died in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield in Area I of the National Mall. On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and, in less than 24 hours, dominated nearly 30 percent of the world's oil supply, swiftly setting his sights on neighboring Saudi Arabia. Recognizing Saudi Arabia's importance to the region, President George Herbert Walker Bush launched Operation Desert Shield, the deployment of American combat forces to Saudi Arabia, and ordered Saddam Hussein to remove Iraqi troops from Kuwait by January 15, 1991. With Kuwait still occupied after the deadline passed, over half a million United States armed services members led coalition forces in the liberation of Kuwait-- Operation Desert Storm. Of the roughly 600,000 American troops who were deployed in both Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, 294 died in theater, of which 148 were killed in action. The United States currently lacks a national memorial dedicated to the valor and sacrifices made by those members of our Armed Forces who fought honorably in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that no Federal funds will be spent to build this memorial. All funds will be raised privately by the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association. We must honor the men and women who fought honorably and valiantly in support of these operations and memorialize those who gave a life to free another. The establishment of this memorial was authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015. Passing this resolution is simply the next step in the process for site selection. The Secretary of the Interior has confirmed the historical value of the proposed memorial and deemed it worthy of being constructed in Area I of Washington, D.C., which includes the areas around other monuments to great American heroism. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, many of us in this Congress know many of the people who served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield, many personal friends of mine did, and many paid the ultimate sacrifice. It is time now we honor those heroes of this country.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I, too, want to associate myself with the remarks of all the speakers and thank Mr. Ashford for his perseverance in bringing this, along with Mr. Fortenberry on our side and Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Takano. This is the way we are going to have to do this more. There is a finite amount of money we have. There is a finite amount of money we can provide for services, and looking for public-private partnerships, as my city in Johnson City, Tennessee, is doing right now with other projects. I think this is a model for what could go on in the country. I have a CBOC in my district where the local mayor provided use at a hospital for a dollar a year for the VA to have the VA facility there. I think that is going on in Nebraska right now. They are trying to see that happen. We need to be thinking about how we can provide these facilities to serve these great veterans who have served our country. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Young), my good friend, to speak on this issue.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry) for his comments.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5099, as amended, the Communities Helping Invest Through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016--and that is a mouthful--or the CHIP IN for Vets Act of 2016. This bill, sponsored by our colleague Congressman Brad Ashford from Nebraska, would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to accept from certain non-Federal entities up to five donations of either real property that includes a constructed facility or is to be used as a site of a facility constructed by the entity, or a facility to be constructed by the entity on VA real property. Such donation may be accepted only if it is for a project for which funds have been appropriated for a VA facility or is identified as meeting both a VA need as part of the Department's long-range capital planning process and as the location for a VA facility project that is included on the strategic capital investment plan. VA is one of our government's largest real property holders; and, considering that the average age of a VA medical building is five times older than the average age of a building in a nonprofit hospital system, VA's capital needs continue to grow in both cost and complexity. Meanwhile, the high-profile scandals and failures that VA's construction and capital asset program has undergone have been well publicized over the last few years. In April of 2013, the Government Accountability Office found that VA's major medical facility construction projects, which are already costly, complicated endeavors, experienced cost increases ranging from 66 percent to 427 percent and schedule delays ranging from 14 months to 86 months. Needless to say, it is clear that the time to look for innovative solutions to VA's capital needs is now. Currently, VA has the authority to accept a donated facility if that facility is already complete; however, it can be challenging to find existing facilities that both meet demonstrated VA need and satisfy all the requirements and mandates that a Federal facility must meet. Allowing VA to accept unconditional donations of real property, improvements, goods, or services from community donors, within certain parameters, could provide a viable solution to meeting VA's capital needs in an expedient, fiscally responsible manner while allowing communities and individuals the opportunity to step up and contribute in honor of their veteran friends and neighbors in a meaningful way. As chairman in the 115th Congress, I look forward to continuing to aggressively oversee VA's troubled construction program and to leave no stones unturned when looking for new ways to ensure that VA has facilities they need to provide the services our veterans require. I believe that the pilot program could lay the foundation for doing just that. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add extraneous material.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5099) to establish a pilot program on partnership agreements to construct new facilities for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 6435, a bill to authorize the Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks, or VISN, of the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with appropriate civilian accreditation entities or appropriate health care evaluation entities to investigate VA medical centers. This bill would allow VISN directors to contract with an appropriate non-VA entity with expertise and civilian accreditation or healthcare evaluation to investigate any medical center within that director's catchment area. It is no secret that the last few years have been tumultuous for the VA healthcare system, beginning with the access and accountability crisis in Phoenix and across the country in 2014, and continuing to just last week when reports surfaced of potential infectious disease concerns at a troubled VA medical center in Tomah, Wisconsin. While the committee has an important oversight and investigative responsibility toward VA, as a Federal bureaucracy, VA is all too often charged with policing itself through internal watchdogs like the Office of Medical Inspector and the VA Office of Inspector General. However, despite all of our best efforts, waste, fraud, and abuse still persist and still continue to harm veterans throughout the VA healthcare system. H.R. 6435 would provide VA regional leadership yet another tool to root out deficiencies within the VA medical facilities while providing VISN directors the ability to work with an experienced, objective entity to assess a given VA medical center's operations and management. I believe this bill will empower VISN leaders to take a more active role in creating a culture of quality and accountability and lead to the provision of better, safer care to veteran patients. I am grateful to my friend and colleague Congressman Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma for sponsoring this legislation, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin), who brought this legislation to our committee.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Mullin said, this is a very commonsense piece of legislation. I worked in hospitals for almost four decades that had joint commission supervision. It is a good way. It is best for patient safety. With that, I encourage all Members to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6435) to authorize the Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks of the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with appropriate civilian accreditation entities or appropriate health care evaluation entities to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill).

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support S. 3076. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup), an active member of the committee.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise to urge all Members to support S. 3076, the Charles Duncan Buried with Honor Act of 2016. S. 3076, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent on September 20, 2016, would provide indigent families of deceased veterans with more choices as they make the difficult decision about where to lay their loved ones to rest without being financially penalized. This legislation is a practical solution for a common challenge that is faced by too many veterans' families. Dr. Wenstrup, my colleague and a valued member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, has sponsored H.R. 6114, the House companion to this bill. Under current law, if a family does not have sufficient resources to buy a casket or an urn for a deceased loved one, the VA can provide one if the veteran is buried in a national cemetery, but not if the veteran is buried in a State or a tribal cemetery. However, for some families, interring a veteran in a national cemetery is not always the best option. For example, a national cemetery may be too far away for families to attend burial services or to regularly visit their loved ones. To better serve the families of all veterans, S. 3076 allows the VA to furnish a casket or an urn if the deceased veteran is laid to rest in a national or in a State or a tribal cemetery. It is appropriate to honor the service of veterans who have passed by providing a casket or an urn regardless of where the veteran is interred. I urge my colleagues to support S. 3076. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4150) to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modify the hours of employment of physicians employed on a full-time basis by the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 4150, as amended, the Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Medical Staffing Recruitment and Retention Act, would authorize the VA, upon written request, to modify the hours of employment for full-time physicians to be more than or less than 80 hours in a biweekly pay period, as agreed to by the physician and hospital management. Earlier this year, the VA testified that there are nearly 4,000 physician vacancies across the VA healthcare system. The VA's ability to effectively recruit and retain high-quality medical professionals to care for our veterans is threatened by the Nation's worsening physician shortage, which the Association of American Medical Colleges has stated could grow to just under 100,000 physicians by 2025. In light of this, it is imperative that we provide the VA with every available tool to improve physician recruitment and to make efficient use of the current physician workforce. Currently, the VA's ability in both regards is hampered by a rigid 80-hour, biweekly work schedule that is at odds with private sector industry standards. Typically, emergency room, ER, providers in non-VA hospitals across the country work flexible schedules to accommodate the irregular hours that emergency medicine demands. However, ER doctors in VA medical facilities are not afforded the opportunity to adopt the flexible schedules that their private sector colleagues enjoy. This bill would correct that discrepancy and improve the VA's ability to recruit and retain ER physicians. H.R. 4150, as amended, which has my full support, originated as a VA legislative proposal and is sponsored by Congressman Raul Ruiz of California, who is an emergency medical physician. I am grateful to him for his efforts in addressing this issue, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this needed legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3492, a bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Traverse City, Michigan, as the Colonel Demas T. Craw VA Clinic. I thank the bill's sponsor, Senator Gary Peters from Michigan, for his efforts in introducing this bill. I also want to thank my colleague, friend, and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Congressman Dan Benishek, from Michigan, for his work on the House side to ensure that Colonel Craw is honored. Demas T. Craw was born and raised in Long Lake Township, Michigan. He enlisted in the United States Army at just 18 years old and went to serve both in World War I and World War II, eventually earning the position of senior pilot. Colonel Craw served our country valiantly until he was tragically killed in combat. In 1942, Colonel Craw volunteered to accompany the leading wave of assault boats to shore in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of north Africa. The mission was to pass through the enemy lines to locate the French commander with a view to suspending hostilities. Sadly, during the course of that mission, Colonel Craw was instantly killed by a sustained burst of machine-gun fire at pointblank range from a concealed position near the road. During his illustrious time in the Army, Colonel Craw accumulated numerous awards, including the World War I Victory Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Purple Heart. He also received our Nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor, for his valiant actions in north Africa. Colonel Demas Craw was a Michigan native and Traverse City resident who served our country with courage. It is only appropriate that the community-based outpatient clinic in Traverse City be named in his honor. S. 3492 satisfies the committee's naming criteria and is supported by the Michigan congressional delegation as well as numerous veterans organizations, including the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and the American Legion. Once again, I am grateful to Congressman Benishek for sponsoring the companion to this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, it is a great privilege for all of us to be here on the floor of this incredible House to speak. We would not be able to do that if it weren't for the heroics of people like Colonel Craw and the sacrifice that he and his family made. We are entering the Christmas season, and I think about our Armed Forces that are stationed around the world, young men and women today, that are out there protecting our Nation's freedoms and others' freedoms. So it is a great honor--and I think one of the things that I have enjoyed doing the most--naming and hearing about the incredible heroics of some of these men and women that have been before us. I want to encourage all Members to support this legislation wholeheartedly. I yield back the balance of my time.