Martha Roby

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the topic of my Special Order.

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1180, the Working Families Flexibility Act. I would love to take credit for this idea. It is not my own. It is a bill that has been carried by other Members on several occasions. I have had the privilege to carry this bill the last few Congresses, and I am excited that we are going to debate this bill tomorrow and, God willing, have a vote on it. The Working Families Flexibility Act is a simple amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Fair Labor Standards Act has been the law of the land since 1938. In 1985, the Fair Labor Standards Act was amended to allow compensatory time. That is paid time off in lieu of cash wages for overtime for public sector employees. But, oddly enough, private sector employees were left out of the equation. This bill, H.R. 1180, simply provides that the private sector can have access to compensatory time in lieu of cash wages for overtime. This doesn't eliminate overtime, but, rather, gives flexibility in the workplace for hardworking Americans to make a decision about how to use their time. Every time an hourly wage employee works an hour of overtime, they would be eligible for an hour and a half of paid leave only if the employer first offers this as a benefit, but, most importantly, that the employee elects voluntarily to choose compensatory time over cash payments for overtime. Congress cannot legislate another hour in the day, but what we can do is provide flexibility for hardworking moms and dads all over this country that may want to use their accrued overtime to coach a soccer game, help with an aging parent, take their child to the pediatrician, or, quite frankly, accrue the time to go on a mission trip somewhere. But this is an opportunity for us to provide this benefit for employees all over this country, like I said, hardworking men and women that just want flexibility. It is voluntary. It must be done through a written agreement between the employer and the employee. But, most importantly, outside of being voluntary, the employee can opt out at any time. The employee can cash out, so to speak. There are cash-out provisions in this bill. So if the arrangement between the employer and the employee is not working out, meaning the employee can't find the appropriate time to utilize the compensatory time, the employee can say: Do you know what? I would rather have my cash payments for overtime. And within 30 days the employer must provide those cash payments that that employee has rightfully earned. I just think this is a great opportunity for us to provide this benefit to so many folks out there who are just trying to balance their life and work, their children, their parents, and all of the things that come with that. As a working mom, I certainly can relate to all of the pushes and pulls that parents have on them in wanting to just provide for their family. Again, at the end of the day, this time belongs to that individual, therefore, he or she ought to be able to make a decision about how to use their time. I have several Members who are here tonight that are going to speak on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner). I thank her so much for her willingness to speak on this issue.

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for taking the time to speak on this bill. I appreciate her willingness to speak on behalf of the Working Families Flexibility Act. In doing so, she is speaking on behalf of so many hardworking American families.

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), our majority leader. During my time in Congress, I don't know anyone who has been a stronger champion for finding ways to help families using conservative, commonsense ideas.

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader for bringing this bill to the floor and giving it the recognition and the time that it deserves. I appreciate the leader taking his time to be here and speak on behalf of the Working Families Flexibility Act. I would like to turn now to my friend and my colleague, also from Missouri (Vicky Hartzler). I just want to point out, though, as I move to her comments, we have to recognize that the workforce has changed. More than 70 percent of mothers today work outside of the home, and the gentlewoman here is certainly one of those who understands that as she has worked so hard and now Tiffany is about to graduate from high school. It seems like yesterday that we were bringing our babies to the floor together. But 70 percent of mothers today work outside of the home. Fifty years ago, that number was less than 30 percent. So the workforce has changed tremendously, but our policies have not kept up with that change. I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler).

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman and all of her comments and her support as a working mom who understands all of the pushes and pulls that so many American families face. I want to spend a little bit of time, while I have the opportunity, to talk about some of the myths about the Working Families Flexibility Act. There is so much misinformation, false information that is out there about this bill. Trust me, we are on social media responding to the information that is being put out there that is incorrect because we want to make sure people understand. This bill is not intended to hurt people. It is intended to help people and offer a much-needed benefit to provide people flexibility in the workforce. The first myth I want to address is that this will result in employees working longer hours for less pay. The fact is that the Working Families Flexibility Act safeguards workers' time and wages. Receiving paid time off or compensatory time for working overtime hours under this bill is completely voluntary. An employee who prefers to receive cash payments for overtime hours worked is always free to do so. Employers and employees are required to complete a written comp time agreement, a voluntary written agreement, and an employee can withdraw from this agreement at any time and receive cash wages for accrued comp time. Comp time is accrued at the same rate as overtime cash wages, so employees who work more than the 40-hour week will accrue paid time off at a rate time and a half for the overtime hours worked. Workers can cash out--meaning, say ``I want the money instead of the time''-- whenever they choose, and employers are required to provide those cash wages that that employee has accrued within 30 days of receiving that employee's request. Another myth is that the Working Families Flexibility Act will allow employers to control when workers use their comp time. The fact is that the Working Families Flexibility Act protects employees' use of the compensatory time that they have earned. The Working Families Flexibility Act allows workers to use their comp time whenever they choose as long as they provide reasonable notice and the leave is not overly disruptive. The unduly disrupt provision included in H.R. 1180, the Working Families Flexibility Act, is the same standard used today for public employees who are using this benefit to receive comp time, and this has worked for over 30 years. As my colleagues have already stated, this is a matter of fairness. If it is good enough for government employees, it should be good enough for private sector employees as well. All existing labor enforcement remedies, including action by the Department of Labor, are available if a worker believes he or she has been unfairly treated. I can't put enough emphasis on this, that the anticoercion, the anti-intimidation provisions that are currently a part of the law, of course, apply to the Working Families Flexibility Act. And it even promotes greater workplace flexibility while protecting the needs of the employer, but the employee is very protected from that type of behavior and coercion by the employer. I have some other myths and facts that I am going to go over, but I see that the chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce Committee has joined us. I really appreciate the gentlewoman, the chairwoman, and all the work that she has done to support the working Families Flexibility Act. I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and thank nineteen constituents from my district who work for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, located in Prattville, Alabama; Covington Electric Cooperative, located in Andalusia, Alabama; and Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives, located in Montgomery, Alabama. Volunteering as power linemen and staff liaisons for NRECA International, these Journeyman Linemen have dedicated themselves to building and upgrading power lines to help communities receive affordable, safe and reliable electricity. They have worked side by side with NRECA International in the town of Guastatoya, Guatemala, and in the city of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, and most recently on the USAID-funded Pilot Project for Sustainable Electricity Distribution in Caracol, Haiti. In Guatemala, they constructed a power line to electrify three villages, Mirador, Tamarindal, and Castanal, bringing a better way of life to more than 300 families. In the latest project, more than 9,000 consumers in Caracol and 10,000 more consumers in surrounding communities will eventually be connected with electricity. The service and sacrifice of these linemen and electric cooperative staff will ultimately impact the lives of thousands of Guatemalans and Haitians, resulting in improvements in healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. For all of you who have given your time, Bruce Adamson, Kevin Anderson, Lamar Daugherty, Reed Daugherty, Jimmy Gray, Aaron Ismail, Keith Hay, Michael Kelley, Michael Longcrier, Darren Maddox, Ross Parker, Kevin Powell, Heath Smith, Ted Stettler, Alan Thrash, Josh Till, Clay Walker, Josh Winburn, and Julie Young, I thank them for their service.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, April 3, 2017, I was absent because of travel delays due to weather related activities. Had I been present, I would have voted the following on April 3, 2017: Roll Call 209 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass, H. Res. 92, Condemning North Korea's development of multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles, and for other purposes, I would have voted Aye. Roll Call 210 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass, H.R. 479, North Korea State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act of 2017, I would have voted Aye.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor First Baptist Church (FBC) of Headland in Headland, Alabama upon its 150th Anniversary. In 1867, eight people in a small village formerly known as ``Heads Land'' gathered to establish what was then known as The Baptist Church of Christ at Bethlehem, led by Reverend Thomas Scott. The church officially took the name of ``The First Baptist Church, Headland, Alabama'' in December of 1969. It has been housed at three separate locations, with its current home residing on East Church Street. The church campus has expanded with the additions of a Sunday School Annex, a Children's Building, a pastorium which now serves as church offices, and a Ministry Center. From its humble beginnings, the church has now grown to a current membership of 1,068, making it the largest church in Henry County. Over the years, FBC Headland has expanded its reach with its TV Ministry, Food Pantry, Child Development Center, Church Counseling Ministry, and multiple Worship Services and Sunday School Classes. FBC Headland's mission statement is ``Glorifying God by Knowing Christ and Making Him Known,'' and I commend them for their dedication to ministries that do just that. The City of Headland is fortunate to have had the touch of FBC Headland upon its community for 150 years. FBC Headland has been an example of the faithfulness and providence of the Lord and I am excited to see what He will do through their ministry in the years to come. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize First Baptist Church of Headland's 150 years of fellowship, worship, and service.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, 7 years ago this week, in this Chamber, the House gave final passage to the Affordable Care Act, better known as ObamaCare. I wasn't in Congress then. Many of us weren't. But for my fellow conservatives here today, that vote 7 years ago marked a decision point, or a moment of affirmation, to answer the call to public service and to help chart a better way for this country. And for 7 years, we have made the case against ObamaCare. As the law has been implemented, that case has been largely made for us. Millions have been forced away from the healthcare plan and doctor they liked, despite being told otherwise. This year alone, in Alabama, health insurance premiums are rising by 58 percent. That is on top of the already steep increases the past 2 years. Our average deductible for the supposedly affordable bronze plan is now $6,000. I have heard from countless constituents about the negative impact of ObamaCare. I have listened to their stories about how higher costs and fewer choices have made it that much harder to keep their families healthy and make ends meet. And in response, I made a promise--the same promise President Trump and every conservative in Congress has made over and over: Give us the majority in the House and the Senate, give us a Republican in the White House, and we will repeal ObamaCare and replace it with reforms that work. So, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are finally in a position to deliver on that promise. The voters gave us what we asked of them, and it is only right that we keep our end of the bargain. With the American Health Care Act, we begin the process of repealing ObamaCare once and for all. This bill dismantles the taxes, mandates, and entitlement spending that make up the core of ObamaCare. It cuts taxes on prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, insurance premiums, and medical devices. It eliminates the individual and employer mandate penalties that have forced millions into expensive, inadequate plans. It replaces the ObamaCare entitlement with refundable tax credits so that people who don't receive insurance through work can put their own tax dollars toward a health plan of their choice. Mr. Speaker, many people have asked why our plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare is a process. Why is this bill only one step and not the full package? It is an understandable question. For the last several years, Americans have been sold the false hope that government has a magic wand with which they can solve all of their problems. The truth is, of course, that it can't. It never can. And the only proof you need is ObamaCare itself. That is why congressional Republicans and the Trump administration are taking a completely different approach than President Obama and the Democrats used 7 years ago. Instead of claiming we need to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it, we have worked in a transparent way. The bill text has been posted online for 3 weeks. It has gone through three separate committee markups, and will come to the House floor in regular order. Instead of one giant bill like ObamaCare, we are using a more responsible, three-step process. First, we will repeal ObamaCare with all its taxes, mandates, and spending through budget reconciliation. Next, the Trump administration will use executive authority to weed out the more intricate ObamaCare policies one by one to stabilize the market and lower costs. And finally, Congress will move forward with legislation addressing more specific policies, such as allowing individuals to purchase insurance across State lines. I believe this will ultimately lead to better, more stable healthcare policy that empowers patients, increases choices, and lowers costs. Mr. Speaker, no bill is perfect. I am sure if every Member of this body came up with their ideal health reform bill, they would each be pretty different. It is supposed to be that way, because we all represent different districts in different parts of the country with different needs. There may well be some changes made here in the House or in the Senate that can make the bill better. That is part of the process, so I certainly remain open to those. But, Mr. Speaker, I am confident this bill puts us on a path toward lower cost and better care, and away from government-controlled health insurance. It represents our opportunity to undo the damage of ObamaCare and help American families like we said we would. For 7 years, we have been promising, and this is our chance to deliver. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the American Health Care Act and send it to the Senate, and get us one step closer to delivering on our promise.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Alabama State University upon its 100 year anniversary of planting war gardens to aid the United States efforts in World War I. One hundred years ago, students, staff, and faculty of the then State Normal School at Montgomery, subsequently Alabama State University, assisted and advised residents near campus and in the City of Montgomery, Alabama on how to plant war gardens. Thanks to these efforts, it was reported that in March 1918 over 1,400 black homes in Montgomery had war gardens. These gardens were important acts of sacrifice and rationing as commercially grown produce was shipped overseas to feed our troops and food-insecure Allies during The Great War or World War I. Next month, the ASU Department of History and Political Science and university community will plant a Memorial WWI War Garden in commemoration and in honor of what was done on our campus a century ago. The garden will represent the pride and commitment of ASU's campus to community and to country. It was originally on March 21, 1918 that Alabama Governor Charles Anderson declared ``Garden Days'' urging Alabamians to grow war gardens, and this day on March 21, 2017 I declare ``Garden Days'' in tribute to what was done in the Montgomery community. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor Alabama State University for its legacy of civil duty and service to both community and country.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House this week is taking action to bring much-needed accountability and improvement to the VA. Two and a half years ago, in the wake of the veterans waitlist scandal, Congress rightfully passed legislation giving the VA Secretary greater authority to fire senior managers responsible for those failures. I was glad to support the bill. In fact, the director of our own scandal-ridden central Alabama VA became the first fired under the new law. But, Mr. Speaker, we all know that law did not go far enough. Responsibility for failures at the VA doesn't just lie with senior managers. We need to provide the VA Secretary increased authority to swiftly remove, demote, or suspend any VA employee for poor performance or misconduct. That is why I urge my colleagues to support the VA Accountability First Act. The problems at the VA may have left the front page for now, but the problems are still very present. The work of improving veterans' access to care is far from over, and I will not stop until it is done.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Frelinghuysen at the full committee and Chairwoman Granger at the Defense Subcommittee on this bill. Providing for the common defense of our Nation is one of the most fundamental duties of Congress under the Constitution. Last week I appreciated the message that President Trump delivered in his joint session address, and I was particularly encouraged by his call to properly fund our military. For the last 6 years, we have been in almost constant tension with an administration whose sequestration policy threatened to hollow out our military. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I stand ready to work with the President and Secretary Mattis to make sure our military is properly funded, well equipped, and ready for the fight. That is why I am so proud to support this Defense Appropriations bill. Our bill rejects the Obama administration's proposed troop level reductions that would have amounted to as many as 36,000 servicemen and -women cut from the ranks. Instead, our bill provides funding for an additional 1,000 Active-Duty Army soldiers, 1,000 Army National Guard soldiers, 1,000 Army Reserve soldiers, and 1,000 Active-Duty marines. The bill also fully funds a much-deserved 2.1 percent pay raise for military personnel. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent a district that is home to both Fort Rucker, the home of Army aviation, and Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, the intellectual center of the Air Force. I am pleased to report that this bill contains a strong budget for Army aviation, including $187 million for the 28 Lakota helicopters, which are the primary aircraft used for training at Fort Rucker. It also contains an increase of almost $450 million for the Air Force's cybersecurity efforts. Maxwell's Air Force Cyber College at Air University plays a key part in cybersecurity, serving as an intellectual hub for the Air Force in the emerging battlefield for cyber warfare. This appropriations bill also contains funding for the procurement of 74 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. The Montgomery-based 187th Fighter Wing is on the short list for being assigned this next generation fighter jet, and our Alabama congressional delegation is working together to make the case to the Air Force why this special unit is an ideal fit. Mr. Speaker, I take our responsibility to craft sound military spending plans very seriously. I am pleased the House is moving the fiscal year 2017 Defense Appropriations bill this week, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 43. Congress must use its authority to strike this rule and stop the Federal Government from forcing States to funnel taxpayer money to abortion providers. This rule is wrong on process and it is wrong on policy. First of all, States have every right to put in place reasonable guidelines for how their Federal dollars are spent. For Washington to attempt to coerce States in this way would be bad enough, but for unelected bureaucrats in the Department of Health and Human Services to go around Congress at the eleventh hour of the Obama administration is just outrageous. Madam Speaker, I think we all agree that low-income women should have access to essential title X services, but why is it necessary for those services to be funded at the Nation's largest provider of abortion? It isn't, of course, but the abortion industry and its supporters want us to believe that it is. When it comes to funding, they like to pretend that abortion doesn't exist and that Planned Parenthood is the only place where women can get health care, but that is not true. The truth is that there are more than 13,000 federally qualified and rural health centers that offer low-cost health care to women. These centers outnumber Planned Parenthood clinics 20 to 1; they just don't preform abortions. Understanding this, some States have rightly enacted laws and policies redirecting title X dollars away from abortion providers and toward these noncontroversial clinics. If the true goal here were to ensure women's health care, no one should have a problem with that. But that wasn't the goal, and everybody knows it. There is a reason people call this rule President Obama's parting gift to Planned Parenthood. It was a blatant, transparent attempt to preserve the pipeline of funding to the Nation's largest abortion business. It was wrong, and I urge my colleagues to vote to nullify it today.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School in Montgomery, Alabama upon its being named a National Blue Ribbon School in November of the year 2016. LAMP Magnet High School is more than deserving of this recognition. The school is currently ranked as the best high school in the State of Alabama and the 34th best high school in the country according to U.S. News and World Report. The school consistently maintains a 95 percent graduation rate though it is currently ranked by The Washington Post as one of the most challenging high schools in America. LAMP is also to be commended for the strong emphasis it places on extracurricular activities, community involvement and service, and parent engagement. The City of Montgomery is fortunate to have the exceptional educational opportunities that LAMP Magnet High School offers. The school truly makes Montgomery and the State of Alabama proud. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to congratulate Loveless Academic Magnet High School on being named a National Blue Ribbon School and celebrate this outstanding accomplishment with its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and all who cherish this remarkable school.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Tennessee for yielding me this time. Opponents of this bill are suggesting that we are against women's health care. What we are vehemently opposed to is the killing of innocent lives, innocent babies. So let's call abortion abortion and be reminded that the one voice, Madam Speaker, not heard today is that of the baby. So it is my privilege, alongside my colleagues, to speak on behalf of those who are not here today to speak for themselves. No taxpayer dollars should ever go to fund abortions. This is a commonsense truth that even the most ardent pro-abortion activists have a hard time arguing. I am unapologetically pro-life, and it is no secret that I believe in stronger protections for unborn children under the law, but I also believe that we must assign greater respect for life within our society. That is why it is so important for Congress to make a statement, once and for all, that there is no place in the Federal budget for abortion funding. As an appropriator, I can tell you that the Hyde amendment has been indispensable to stopping funding for abortion throughout our government healthcare agencies. Now it is time to apply the same longstanding provision across the entire Federal Government. Madam Speaker, for my pro-life colleagues and me, fighting on behalf of the unborn has been an uphill battle these last several years. The abortion industry's fierce allies in the Senate and the Obama administration have made sure that many worthy pro-life measures were defeated. However, with a unified Republican government, our hope is that our prospects have changed for the better. On just the second day of his Presidency, President Trump issued an executive order blocking Federal funding for international groups to provide or promote abortions. For the pro-life community, this long-overdue action was a welcome sign that the Trump administration will be a powerful ally in the fight for life.

Mrs. ROBY. Madam Speaker, there are many policy improvements to pursue: reasonable limits on abortions after 5 months of pregnancy, stopping the shell game of title X funding at Planned Parenthood, improving access to adoption services, and more. But a great place to start is passing H.R. 7. It is our enduring responsibility to defend the unborn, and it is imperative we get this right.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bullock County, Alabama which today is celebrating 150 years as a county. What is now Bullock County was first inhabited by Creek Indians who moved westward from Georgia and began cultivating the rich, spring- filled land. After the bitter Creek War, American settlers brought schools, churches, and mercantile life to complement the thriving agriculture, and the town of Union Springs was born. After the Civil War, portions of Macon, Montgomery, Barbour and Pike Counties were brought together to form Bullock County, after Confederate Colonel E.C. Bullock. The late 1800s and early 1900s were prosperous for Bullock County, as railroad connections and industrialization made the county seat of Union Springs an important hub for Alabama and the South. That history can still be seen in Bullock County today. The National Register of Historic Places, lists 47 homes and businesses that have been preserved as standing monuments to the past. One hundred and fifty years after its founding, Bullock County is home to fine, hardworking people that I am proud to represent in Congress. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to acknowledge Bullock County's sesquicentennial anniversary and celebrate this special date with all those who call Bullock County home.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 518, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 354, I mistakenly voted ``yea'' when I intended to vote ``no.''

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our side of the aisle, I would encourage all of you to come tonight. We are going to beat cancer. More importantly, we are going to beat the press. Although, they are not up there, so they must be intimidated. Every person in this room has been affected by cancer, so I would just encourage you to come. This is a great bipartisan effort for a great cause, and we would love to have all of you out there cheering us on to beat the press and beat cancer.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 276 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Rush

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Colonel John J. Lindsay for dedicating 28 years of honorable service to the United States Army. John and his family's devotion, sacrifice, and commitment to the Nation is worthy of praise and recognition. A native of New York, John was commissioned into the United States Army as a second lieutenant after graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1988. He is a combat proven leader and a highly skilled AH-64D Apache attack helicopter pilot. John is a true professional and scholar, earning a Bachelor of Science in National Security from the United States Military Academy and a Master of Science in Human Resources from Central Michigan University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Joint Forces Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College Fellowship Program. Upon entrance into the Armed Forces, Colonel Lindsay attended the aviation officer basic course and initial entry rotary wing flight training at Fort Rucker in the 2nd Congressional District of Alabama that I proudly represent. Throughout John's career in Army aviation, he served in a range of assignments from the platoon level to the Department of the Army headquarters staff. His initial assignment was as an aeroscout platoon leader in the Republic of Korea with the 5- 501st Attack Helicopter Battalion, 17th Aviation Brigade. He continued to his second overseas assignment in Wiesbaden, Germany with 5-6 Cavalry Squadron, 12th Aviation Brigade. During his tenure with the 12th Aviation Brigade, he served as squadron liaison officer and squadron adjutant. He later served as the assistant squadron operations officer and headquarters troop Commander in 6-6 Cavalry Squadron, based in Illesheim, Germany. Upon completion of his overseas tour in Germany, he returned to the U.S. and served in multiple duty assignments from the National Training Center (NTC) at Ft. Irwin, CA to the U.S. Army Personnel Command in Alexandria, VA. Later in his career, John returned to the 11th Aviation Regiment and served during the initial invasion of Iraq. The Army selected John to command 1-14th Aviation Battalion at Ft Rucker, AL, where he completed the AH-64D Instructor Pilot course and assumed responsibility of all attack and reconnaissance flight training for the Army. After command, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command where he served as the aviation branch chief and later as the chief of maneuver, fires and effects division. Upon promotion to Colonel, Colonel Lindsay attended the U.S. Army War College Fellowship at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Washington, D.C., and subsequently deployed as the director of the Joint Operations Center (JOC) to U.S. Forces Iraq. In his most recent assignments, he served as a senior advisor to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and also as the director of army aviation for the Army's G 3/5/7. John was instrumental in the formulation of the Army's Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI), which optimizes the operational capability, deployment and lethality, and deployment in Army Aviation. Mr. Speaker, it has been a sincere pleasure to have worked with Colonel John J. Lindsay over the last three years. On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues in recognizing and commending John for his service to the United States of America. We wish him, his lovely wife Virginia, and their three children, Ian, Emma, and Kevin all the best as they depart the United States Army and continue on their wonderful journey.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Protection and Advocacy for Veterans Act. This bill will engage our protection and advocacy agencies to ensure veterans are receiving the mental health care and substance abuse treatment they deserve. Increased demand from veterans returning from war, a national shortage of mental health professionals, and a prescription drug abuse epidemic have made it difficult for the VA to keep pace with the growing need in these areas. Mr. Speaker, progress is being made, but I believe we can do better. I also believe that we owe it to our veterans to look beyond the traditional means and bring all available resources to bear in ensuring access to proper care for mental health and substance abuse treatment. For 40 years, protection and advocacy agencies have monitored the quality of care in State-operated hospitals, psychiatric wards, and other facilities. They have the authority to inspect medical records, make recommendations to providers, and, when necessary, take legal action on behalf of patients. I believe bringing this high degree of patient advocacy expertise to the VA can greatly benefit our veterans.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3234, the VA Medical Center Recovery Act. This bill puts the responsibility for identifying and improving the worst performing VA medical centers squarely on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, requiring him to deploy teams of experts to turn around failing facilities. The bill would, for the first time, require the VA to publish key metrics known as SAIL data on the Federal Register and would require the Secretary to report to Congress any medical centers determined to be failing. Some of my colleagues might wonder why such a bill is necessary, given the VA reform law that we passed more than a year ago. That was a good bill, but it wasn't a silver bullet. Many problems still exist in the VA, and it is our responsibility to address them. Mr. Speaker, the Central Alabama VA in my district became known as one of the worst in the country. My staff and I worked with whistleblowers and the press to uncover major instances of misconduct, negligence, and mismanagement inside the Central Alabama VA, including: Widespread manipulation of scheduling data. A nation-leading 57 percent of employees reported that managers instructed them to change appointment times to hide long waits. More than 1,000 patient X-rays, some showing malignancies, went missing for months and even years. A pulmonologist was caught twice falsifying more than 1,200 patient records but somehow given a satisfactory review. An employee took a recovering veteran to a crackhouse, bought him drugs, and paid for prostitutes, all to extort his benefits. When caught, the employee wasn't fired, not until a year later, after our office exposed it publicly. In the wake of these exposures, the Central Alabama VA Director became the first senior VA manager fired under the new law.