Martha Roby

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues this afternoon to remind all that today is a very special day. Today is the Seventh Annual Congressional Women's Softball Game that we play for the Young Survival Coalition. Each of us is playing either in memory of or in honor of a survivor. No one in this room is untouched by cancer, so I would just encourage all of my colleagues to join us tonight. The first pitch is at 7 o'clock at the Watkins Recreation Center. Members can bring all of their staffs and their interns and their friends and their families. It will be a great event. Beat cancer, and beat the press. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. I thank the gentleman. I, too, rise in opposition to this amendment. I will enter into the Record a letter from General Odierno that I received, as well as others. It references the FY15 NDAA, which expressly allows for the transfer of Apaches with no restrictions on additional moves thereafter. And it says: ``If we are restricted from transferring any portion of the 72 Apaches, or must count aircraft inducted into the remanufacture line as part of that 72, we will have to inactivate one or more of the battalions in New York, Kansas, or Hawaii, as well as drastically reduce the work going in the remanufacture plant in 2016.'' Department of the Army, Washington, DC, June 8, 2015. U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. We are writing to inform you that pending legislation may cause great damage to the readiness of the United States Army, create enormous disruption to the lives of thousands of military family members, harm our industrial base, and require us to send Soldiers into combat who may not be fully trained. Specifically, provisions in both the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and the House version of the Defense Appropriations Act will, if enacted, undo last year's compromise legislation that supported the Army's critically important Aviation Restructuring Initiative (ARI). The proposals drastically alter the statutorily permitted movement of AH-64 Apache helicopters between the Army National Guard (ARNG) and the Regular Army in 2016--a transfer authorized in the FY15 NDAA. Accordingly, as discussed below, to protect our Soldiers and their Families, we request that you continue to support our comprehensive ARI plan. The FY15 NDAA provisions were based on the following factors, none of which has changed: The National Guard Bureau's (NGB) alternative to ARI proposed the transfer of 72 AH-64 Apaches to the Regular Army; The decision to transfer the remaining AH-64 Apaches from the ARNG to the Regular Army would be resolved based on recommendations by the National Commission on the Future of the Army; and The GAO and the Office of the Secretary of Defense CAPE would conduct independent reviews of both ARI and the NGB alternative, both of which have since confirmed that the ARI plan is less costly and provides greater warfighting capacity than the NGB alternative. With these principles in mind, the FY15 NDAA allowed the Army, with the certification of the Secretary of Defense, to transfer 48 AH-64 Apaches between October 2015 and March 2016, with no restrictions on additional moves thereafter. Nevertheless, recognizing Congressional concern, the Army specifically committed to transferring no more than 24 additional Apaches in FY16 for a total of 72, which precisely matched the number in the National Guard's alternative proposal. Our FY16 plan provided Congress with time to act upon the results the Commission's report (to be delivered in February 2016); allowed for the normal induction of aircraft into the AH-64 remanufacture line in Arizona; and preserved the Army's ability to deploy trained and equipped Soldiers and units into combat. We strictly adhered to FY15 NDAA and made critical programmatic and operational decisions based upon it. The key points of the Army plan for FY16, which is based on the FY15 NDAA, are below: Transferring 24 AH-64 Apaches from the ARNG to the 25th Infantry Division (ID) in Hawaii; Transferring 24 AH-1-64 Apaches from the ARNG to the 1st ID in Kansas; Transferring 24 AH-64 Apaches from the ARNG to the 10th Mountain Division in New York after 31 March 2016; and Inducting 24 ARNG and 32 Regular Army AH-64 Apaches for remanufacture in Arizona. Should Congress now dismantle this carefully crafted plan, it would not only be disruptive, but also dangerous for our Soldiers. As you know, several proposed legislative changes either prohibit our ability to transfer any or part of the 72 aircraft or require us to count airframes, which were inducted into the remanufacture process in 2014, against the permitted transfers in FY16. The potential impacts of these provisions are stark. If we are restricted from transferring any portion of the 72 Apaches (24 in October 2015, 24 in February 2016, and 24 in July 2016), or must count aircraft inducted into the remanufacture line as part of that 72, we will have to inactivate one or more of the battalions in New York, Kansas, or Hawaii, as well as drastically reduce the work going into the remanufacture plant in 2016: Each battalion inactivation will result in the unplanned transfer of approximately 500 Soldiers and 1,000 family members, driven by the absence of the aircraft needed to train the unit; Up to three Combat Aviation Brigades (CAB) of 2,500 Soldiers each, will become combat ineffective, because they will be missing their reconnaissance units, which is half of their attack capability, thus depriving the entire brigade this crucial capability; Nearly 30% of the entire Regular Army combat aviation force could be rendered ineffective, leaving only eight fully ready CABs in 2016--compared to the 13 Regular Army CABs that existed prior to the inactivation of two in FY15; it should be noted that the ARNG has not reduced a single aircraft or unit in this same time frame; We will not be able to meet PACOM requirements for a ``no- notice'' Korea warfight; We will have to send Soldiers into combat in Iraq and Afghanistan without the proper training in Joint Combined Arms maneuver from the 25th ID, 1st ID, and 10th Mountain Division; additionally, the remaining Apache Battalions would have to extend the amount of time they are deployed (note, they are already operating at a 1:1.5 deploy to dwell ratio); and We may have to stop inductions into the AH-64E remanufacture line, because we could not, under certain provisions, process 24 Apaches from the ARNG. Additionally, the risk of losing 32 Regular Army AH-64's for a year, which are planned for induction, without the backfill transfer of the 72 Apaches from the ARNG could be too high. This stoppage could jeopardize a workforce of 4,100 employees in 22 states, including 2,200 in Arizona, 360 in Alabama, 350 in Florida, 285 in California, and lesser numbers in WA, TX, MO, IL, MS, OH, WV, PA, NY, VT, NH, CT, NC, SC, and GA. We face an unprecedented and unpredictable global environment that continues to morph in dangerous and unforeseen ways. Now more than ever, we need a force that provides the capabilities necessary to execute the missions that we know are coming, as well as the versatility, agility and depth to handle contingencies we cannot predict. An absolutely critical component of our force is our aviation formations, and we must be able to effectively restructure them to meet current and future demands. Accordingly, we need your support to ensure that the framework created by the FY15 NDAA remains in place. We owe this to our Soldiers, their Families, our industry partners and, most importantly, the American people. Simply put, delaying or derailing ARI jeopardizes your Army, and our Nation's security. We appreciate your time and thoughtful consideration of this matter. Sincerely, Raymond T. Odierno, General, United States Army Chief of Staff. John M. McHugh, Secretary of the Army.

Mrs. ROBY. Look, friends and colleagues, we have heard from several Members about the devastating impacts that any delay in ARI would have on our Army. But let's take time to revisit why we are here in the first place. We are here because this Congress put the Army in the position to have to make these difficult decisions in the first place. We are here because of a thing called sequestration. And if there has ever been a time for a stronger argument to revisit this so that we can properly fund all of our military across all branches so that they are not put in this box where the Army has to make these tough decisions, now is the time. We have got to properly fund the United States military. So here we have a letter from a highly respected Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army to Congress saying, If you do this, if you delay these helicopter transfers, you will create a domino affect that will result in the United States of America sending our soldiers to Afghanistan and Iraq who are neither fully trained or in fully equipped. We have to do better. We have to do better. And this is the case. Again, I oppose this amendment, and I call on my colleagues to revisit fully funding our military and repealing the sequester.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, this week marks 1 year since the Veterans Affairs Secretary, Eric Shinseki, resigned amid a scandal that shook this country to its core. When President Obama reluctantly accepted Secretary Shinseki's resignation, he had a lot to say about his commitment to fix the VA and where the buck stops. He said: ``We're going to do right by our veterans across the board, as along as it takes.'' And then: ``This is my administration. I always take responsibility for whatever happens.'' Well, Mr. Speaker, a lot has happened over the past year, and here are some of the highlights: Last June, reports emerged that patient scheduling manipulation had been particularly egregious inside the central Alabama VA. During a meeting to discuss these findings, the director of the central Alabama VA led me to believe that appropriate action had been taken to remove the employees that were responsible for this. That wasn't true. So I began to dig a little bit deeper into the problems, working with very courageous whistleblowers and the press to uncover major instances of misconduct, negligence, and mismanagement inside the central Alabama VA. What we were able to expose was more than 1,000 patient x rays, some showing problems, went missing for months and years. A pulmonologist was called, not once but twice, for falsifying more than 1,200 patient records but somehow given a satisfactory review. An employee took a recovering veteran to a crack house, bought him drugs and prostitutes, all to extort his veteran's benefits. When caught, that employee, as extraordinary as this is, was never fired. Not until a year and a half later, when it was reported in the press and exposed publicly, did the VA take action. What else happened last year? Congress passed a historic VA reform law providing unprecedented authority for holding employees accountable. The director of the central Alabama VA who lied to me became the first manager fired under the new reform law. Other managers were also removed, and the southeast regional director quietly retired when an investigation into central Alabama VA was expanded at my request to include him. So again, a lot has happened over the past year. But, Mr. Speaker, there is a lot that hasn't happened over the past year. Improvement to access for patient care, the one thing that we really need for our veterans, hasn't happened. It really hasn't happened nationally, and certainly it hasn't happened in central Alabama. In fact, VA medical centers in Montgomery and Tuskegee were recently identified number one and number two, respectively, the worst hospitals in the Nation for extended delays in patient appointment completions. The first and the second worst hospitals in the country are in the central Alabama VA. A workload report at the end of April showed that more than 6,500 consults over 90 days were still pending, including more than half awaiting approval for non-VA care. So not enough improvement has happened where it matters most for our veterans. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the progress the central Alabama VA has made. What was a major staff shortage is beginning to be filled, and that includes the mental health side. I appreciate very much the new acting director of the region, Tom Smith, keeping me updated on the latest. I am grateful for him stepping into this important role in a difficult situation, trying to rebuild, trying to rebuild some of the trust that has been lost. As I have told him, the progress isn't enough. One reason I believe it isn't enough is that Washington has demonstrated something of a short attention span when it comes to these problems. We got their attention last year and a lot of nice promises have been made in terms of the national VA's commitment to improve in central Alabama, but once our problems leave the front page, there hasn't been sufficient follow- up. Mr. Speaker, maybe that is because we are depending on a broken bureaucracy to fix itself. Maybe it is because we have been asking VA leaders to intervene rather than requiring them to intervene. Maybe it is time that we change that. You know, when a public school continues to fail to meet basic standards, what happens? The State Department of Education comes in to take over and start to turn the place around. It is a process that isn't pleasant, but everyone from principals to teachers to students to parents, they understand the consequences of the failure of that school system to improve. I believe that we need a similar mechanism at the VA when medical centers continue to fail our veterans. That is why I am preparing legislation that will allow the Washington VA to do that. My constituents, my veterans in Alabama, are getting the worst healthcare services that this country could provide. They deserve better.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant General Charles `Chick' Cleveland, one of our country's great fighter pilots, an American hero, and a community leader in Montgomery, Alabama. Lieutenant General Charles Cleveland was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1927 and was appointed for service at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. After graduating in 1949, he began his service in what was then the Army Air Corps, eventually transitioning into service with the U.S. Air Force and serving overseas during the Korean War. Later, Gen. Cleveland earned his master's degree in political science from Xavier University in Cincinnati, and completed the advanced management program at Harvard University in 1969. In his more than 35 years of service, General Cleveland logged more than 4300 flying hours in military aircraft, including the F-86 Sabre. General Cleveland demonstrated a rarely-matched level of combat expertise, becoming one of our country's distinguished fighter aces. General Cleveland was credited with shooting down five enemy MiG-15 aircraft in Korea, officially earning the designation as an `ace.' General Cleveland went on to a distinguished career in the United States Air Force, holding several command positions including Commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in my hometown of Montgomery, Alabama. Yesterday, the Congress awarded General Cleveland and all of the American Fighter Aces with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed by Congress. I was honored to host General Cleveland in my office prior to the ceremony. My staff and I were privileged to spend time with this American hero and hear stories from his distinguished military service. But General Cleveland's public service did not end with his retirement from military duty. Since his retirement, General Cleveland has continued to devote countless hours to efforts to better his community, state, and country. After making Montgomery his family's home, he served as Director of the United Way, and led the Montgomery Area Food Bank. In 1989, he was chosen as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Health and Human Services, serving through 1992. Most recently, his 17 years of service as the President of the Alabama World Affairs Council helped transform the institute into the largest organization of its kind in the South. The Alabama World Affairs Council is a fine organization which seeks to promote public awareness and understanding of international affairs as they relate to the political, economic, cultural, and military interests of the United States. The Alabama council is a member of the World Affairs Councils of America and is one of some 96 councils nationwide. Though General Cleveland is retiring from his position, he leaves an undeniable mark on the organization and its members who have benefited from his service. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Lieutenant General Cleveland--a distinguished fighter pilot, a public servant, a community leader, and an American hero. He has truly set an example for future generations of Americans to come, and it is my great honor to represent him here in Congress.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. I thank the gentlewoman from Tennessee and everyone who has worked so hard on this bill. Madam Speaker, I have sat here for 25 minutes--or for however long-- listening to this debate, and I have been struck by the opposition to this bill's constant and consistent argument that this is about leaving these decisions to the mothers and their doctors. What about the baby? Who is standing up for that baby who cannot speak for himself? That is what we are doing here today. This is such an important measure on behalf of those who don't have a voice and who can feel pain. It is a shame that such a humane and compassionate measure has opposition at all, especially since great care has been taken to protect women and babies in this bill. If we won't stop abortions at 5 months, when unborn babies feel pain, when will we stop it? There have to be limits. Even those of us who want to end abortion altogether in any form support this restriction. Do you know why? It protects babies. It saves babies. It protects women. It assigns a greater value to human life.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. First, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their hard work on this bill, and I thank the chairman for yielding. Madam Chairman, I am so grateful for this opportunity to stand here today in support of H.R. 2029, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This bill undeniably provides much-needed funding for both our veterans programs and military projects, while staying within the strict limits of our House-passed budget resolution. I am especially proud because there is funding that we were able to secure in this bill for the folks in Alabama, right at home, including new school construction both at Fort Rucker, the home of Army aviation excellence, and $33 million for new school construction at Maxwell Air Force Base, much-needed dollars for our military families at this post and this base, and also funding for a new squadron operations facility at Dannelly Field. These are all extremely important to our critical military functions in Alabama. Anybody who has been on post at Rucker or at the base at Maxwell knows that these schools are in disrepair and are in need of replacing. Our military families deserve quality on-base facilities, and these projects are going to go a long way to help improve their quality of life right there in Alabama. I want to address, though, what I was struck with--and everyone else in this institution--when I woke up this morning, Madam Chair. I was extremely disappointed, alongside my colleagues, to see that the President, yet again, has threatened to veto this bill. This bill provides critical, much-needed funding for our military families and our veterans, and the President should not play around with that. Under this administration we have failed our veterans miserably. And only in Washington, D.C., when you see an increase of $3.6 billion for our VA to provide these critical needs for our men and women who have worn the uniform and put their lives on the line for the freedom and liberty that allow us to stand in this room today, only in Washington, D.C., will a $3.6 billion increase on behalf of our veterans be called a cut. You know why, Madam Chair? It is being called a cut because it is the only way to shift the blame away from this administration's failure to our veterans back to the Republican-led House. It is clearly politics that is driving us, and I am asking, Madam Chair, that the President seriously rethink his position. The administration needs to take responsibility, and they are trying, once again, to point fingers at leadership in this House that is doing all that we can to ensure that our veterans get timely care and the best care that we can provide them. This is cynical, and it is shameful, and I believe--I believe--that the American people can see straight through it. So I hope, again, Madam Chair, that the President will reconsider this position because there is no place--no place--here in this bill for political gamesmanship when it comes to our military families and our veterans.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Charles Rush, an exceptional Alabamian who set an example of leadership for all to follow. His lifetime of dedication and service stands as a monument to the exemplary man he was, and his gallantry in battle continues to inspire future generations. Rush was born in Greensboro, a small farming town in west Alabama. When he was seven, his family moved to Dothan, Alabama where he went to elementary and high school. After completing high school at the Gulf Coast Military Academy in Gulfport, Mississippi, Rush was awarded an appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Graduating in 1941, he was then assigned duty aboard a destroyer and stationed at Pearl Harbor. Later, Rush volunteered for submarine duty where he completed a total of seven patrols with the USS Thresher and the USS Billfish. In 1943, three enemy destroyers attacked the Billfish, bombarding it with depth charges for twelve hours. During this terrifying attack, the ship's commanders became unable to ensure the safety of the submarine. Then Lieutenant Rush took control of the situation, outsmarted the enemy destroyers, and helped lead the submarine and all of the men aboard to safety. Nearly sixty years after the attack, Rush was awarded the Navy Cross in 2002--an honor insisted upon by his fellow crew members of the USS Billfish on board during the attack. Captain Rush was a friend, mentor, respected colleague, and gentleman to many, and will be remembered for his courage and integrity. Captain Rush passed on February 27th, 2015, just shy of his 96th birthday. He is survived by LaVonne, his wife of 39 years, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a host of other family members.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I, too, want to echo the sentiments of my colleague from Alabama (Ms. Sewell) in thanking leadership and all the Members on both sides of the aisle for their willingness to jump right on this so that we could achieve passage both here in the House and in the Senate in time for this most important anniversary, the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. I am so proud just standing here listening to my colleague. I am so proud to have the privilege and the opportunity to cosponsor this bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the brave men and women who not only changed Alabama and America, but they changed the world. So as we look toward the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, it is certainly fitting to honor the brave individuals who, against brutality and oppression, took a stand for their God-given rights. So thank you to my colleague, Terry Sewell, for all your hard work on this very important, worthy legislation. I have also been honored, Mr. Speaker, to serve alongside my colleague from Alabama (Ms. Sewell) in recruiting Members of this body and the Senate to join us in the pilgrimage led by John Lewis to Alabama for the anniversary on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of next month. I am proud to say we have a record number of colleagues that are willing to participate because of the obvious significance of this important day. I look forward to, alongside all of my colleagues in the Alabama delegation--who again I thank as well as Ms. Sewell for their willingness to host our colleagues from all over the country in Birmingham, in Montgomery, and Selma, and other very important places to the civil rights movement--hearing from those who lived it. One of the things that we did alongside this Congressional Gold Medal, Mr. Speaker, was to invite our colleagues to come to a screening of the movie ``Selma.'' I have to say, as a girl growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, that did not live through this very important time in our history, it was honestly one of the more moving moments in my time in Congress, to sit in the room with our colleague, Mr. Lewis, and experience through that visual on the screen what he lived in his life. It was a unique and special moment and one that I will personally treasure for a very long time. So, Mr. Speaker, it is Mr. Lewis and all those that joined him in standing up for justice that we seek to honor with this Congressional Gold Medal. There is no higher honor that we as Members of Congress can bestow, yet it seems such a small token of gratitude compared to the magnitude of the endeavors of those who lived through those days. My daughter, Margaret, Mr. Speaker, whom you often hear me talk about--I have Margaret and George, but Margaret is in fourth grade, and like in a lot of States, in fourth grade in Alabama you learn about Alabama history. This is such an important time in her life as she learns about our State and its history, and the civil rights movement is certainly an integral part, a very important part of our history. So she is coming with me on the pilgrimage next month. She will be able to meet and know firsthand the people that fought to change the world. It is difficult for those of us who weren't alive during the civil rights movement sometimes to wrap our minds around it, but I, alongside my daughter, am very much looking forward to this special time as Members of Congress that we have to reflect on the importance of this history. I am, again, honored, Mr. Speaker, to be a part of this bill, and I just thank, again, all of my colleagues who very quickly joined with us so that we could get this done to honor those brave foot soldiers that changed not just our country, but the world. I, too, ask that all my colleagues join me in voting in favor of H.R. 431.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2015; and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Monday, February 2, 2015, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 240, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act, and to offer this amendment alongside my colleague, Mr. DeSantis of Florida. If we are going to fix a broken immigration law, the way to do it is to uphold the rule of law, not undermine it. President Obama has offered amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. That not only undermines the rule of law, it threatens American jobs. It is dangerous and irresponsible. I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues, including Mr. Aderholt from Alabama, to get this bill to the floor today so that we can responsibly fund the Department of Homeland Security but also defund the President's unlawful executive amnesty. Madam Chair, do you want a great example of why the President acting unilaterally to circumvent Congress is a bad idea? Well, this amendment that we offer today demonstrates that. Right now, illegal immigrants convicted of child abuse, sexual offenders, and domestic abusers, are not a top priority for deportation in this country. This amendment simply makes them a priority for deportation. This is an example as to why the President circumventing Congress is not only a bad idea, but it undermines the law. I ask my colleagues to not only support this very important amendment, but also to support the underlying bill that uses the power of the purse. It is Congress' responsibility to defund the unlawful, unconstitutional acts of this President and his executive amnesty.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Larry Blakeney, an exceptional Alabamian who has made an enormous contribution to athletics and the development of young people in my state. Coach Blakeney is best known as the head coach of the Troy University Trojan football team, a position he held for 24 years, retiring this past December. During that time, Coach Blakeney built a little-known Southeast Alabama team into a conference powerhouse and a nationally-competitive program. His remarkable career at Troy has included six 10-win seasons, five Sunbelt Conference championships, and 178 wins--a total that places him among the top three Alabama college coaches, behind the legendary Paul ``Bear'' Bryant and just ahead of his mentor and winningest Auburn coach Ralph ``Shug'' Jordan. Among the defining characteristics of Larry Blakeney-coached teams was the fearless attitude they took into competition. ``Any team, anytime, anywhere'' was Troy's motto, never phased or intimidated by traditional college football powers. And the Trojans would not just compete against the best, they would win. Simply put, Larry Blakeney has personified Troy Football, so much so that the field on which the Trojans play bears his name. Larry Blakeney's impact on the game of football in Alabama started as a player in high school, when he led the Gordo Green Wave to a record of 24-2-2 and three-straight Warrior Conference championships. He enrolled at Auburn University, where he became the first sophomore to start at quarterback under Coach Ralph ``Shug'' Jordan, a distinction that shows the extraordinary trust the legendary coach placed in him. Blakeney began his coaching career in the high school ranks, first at Southern Academy, then Walker High School and Vestavia Hills High School. He was then hired at his beloved alma mater, Auburn, where he served as an assistant coach for 14 seasons. Auburn would experience one of its most successful runs ever with Coach Blakeney calling plays, including three-straight SEC championships in 1987, 1988 and 1989. Coach Blakeney's success and championship drive made him the perfect choice to lead Troy's burgeoning football program beginning in 1991. His success on the gridiron has led to many accolades, including multiple ``Coach of the Year'' honors and placement in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. However, Coach Blakeney's impact goes far beyond the playing field. From Gordo to Auburn to Troy, he has maintained close, warm relationships with his teammates, fellow coaches, and players. The Auburn Creed, which outlines how Auburn men and women are supposed to live, emphasizes ``the human touch,'' which cultivates love, understanding and sympathy with your fellow man. Larry Blakeney personifies and embodies that ``human touch'' to a great and rare degree. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of once-young men are, today, better husbands, fathers, and citizens because of the positive influence of Coach Blakeney; a good man who used the game of football to teach integrity, character, and perseverance throughout his entire career. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to acknowledge Coach Blakeney's positive impact on young people in Alabama, to celebrate his remarkable career, and to honor his place among the greatest college football coaches to walk the sidelines in my state.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Larry Blakeney, an exceptional Alabamian who has made an enormous contribution to athletics and the development of young people in my state. Coach Blakeney is best known as the head coach of the Troy University Trojan football team, a position he held for 24 years, retiring this past December. During that time, Coach Blakeney built a little-known Southeast Alabama team into a conference powerhouse and a nationally-competitive program. His remarkable career at Troy has included six 10-win seasons, five Sunbelt Conference championships, and 178 wins--a total that places him among the top three Alabama college coaches, behind the legendary Paul ``Bear'' Bryant and just ahead of his mentor and winningest Auburn coach Ralph ``Shug'' Jordan. Among the defining characteristics of Larry Blakeney-coached teams was the fearless attitude they took into competition. ``Any team, anytime, anywhere'' was Troy's motto, never phased or intimidated by traditional college football powers. And the Trojans would not just compete against the best, they would win. Simply put, Larry Blakeney has personified Troy Football, so much so that the field on which the Trojans play bears his name. Larry Blakeney's impact on the game of football in Alabama started as a player in high school, when he led the Gordo Green Wave to a record of 24-2-2 and three-straight Warrior Conference championships. He enrolled at Auburn University, where he became the first sophomore to start at quarterback under Coach Ralph ``Shug'' Jordan, a distinction that even Auburn Heisman winner Pat Sullivan does not share. Blakeney began his coaching career in the high school ranks, first at Southern Academy, then Walker High School and Vestavia Hills High School. He was then hired at his beloved alma mater, Auburn, where he served as an assistant coach for 14 seasons. Auburn would experience one of its most successful runs ever with Coach Blakeney calling plays, including three-straight SEC championships in 1987, 1988 and 1989. Coach Blakeney's success and championship drive made him the perfect choice to lead Troy's burgeoning football program beginning in 1991. His success on the gridiron has led to many accolades, including multiple ``Coach of the Year'' honors and placement in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. However, Coach Blakeney's impact goes far beyond the playing field. From Gordo to Auburn to Troy, he has maintained close, warm relationships with his teammates, fellow coaches, and players. The Auburn Creed, which outlines how Auburn men and women are supposed to live, emphasizes ``the human touch,'' which cultivates love, understanding and sympathy with your fellow man. Larry Blakeney personifies and embodies that ``human touch'' to a great and rare degree. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of once-young men are, today, better husbands, fathers, and citizens because of the positive influence of Coach Blakeney; a good man who used the game of football to teach integrity, character, and perseverance throughout his entire career. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to acknowledge Coach Blakeney's positive impact on young people in Alabama, to celebrate his remarkable career, and to honor his place among the greatest college football coaches to walk the sidelines in my state.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. New Jersey: William Livingston, David Brearley, William Paterson, Jonathan Dayton. Pennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, President Obama's attempt to bypass Congress and grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants is wrong and dangerous. It undermines the rule of law and threatens American jobs. That is why right now several of my colleagues and I, including fellow appropriators, are putting the finishing touches on a plan that will wield the power of the purse to block executive amnesty. I believe we have a solid strategy. We wanted to put forward the simplest, most straightforward bill language that could defund the President's immigration actions. Thankfully my own Alabama Senator, Jeff Sessions, had already generated some great model language doing just that, so we crafted that into the House bill. We are still working on it, but I am confident that strong defund language will be presented to this House for inclusion in the Homeland appropriations title. I believe the will of Congress must be to fund Homeland Security and its important functions, but to specifically block implementation of President Obama's unconstitutional immigration orders.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss mental health services for veterans. As you know, physical injuries are not the only ones endured in war. Many soldiers return home with wounds that we cannot see. For some veterans, the psychological trauma endured on the battlefield affects them and their families long after the shots stop firing. Of the 2 million Americans who served in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan, as many as 300,000 meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. Another 300,000 may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Mr. Speaker, for these servicemen and servicewomen, access to quality mental health care is crucial, so imagine being one of these soldiers who recently returned home with the lasting psychological effects that so commonly result from war. Now, imagine that in seeking treatment from the VA, you are forced to go 67 days without an appointment. Sixty-seven days is the new average wait time for new mental health patients at the central Alabama VA; and, Mr. Speaker, that number has gotten worse. In May, the wait time for new mental health patients was 57 days. Mr. Speaker, administrators claim that scheduling and labeling errors have contributed to making the problem appear worse on paper than it actually is, but if after all of this time we haven't figured out how to properly schedule patients at the VA, we have worse problems than I thought. I don't expect it to magically improve overnight, but we shouldn't be moving in the wrong direction. My primary focus is improving care for veterans in Alabama, and there are ways that we can do it. I am eager to see greater utilization of the Patient-Centered Community Care program, otherwise known as PC3, which connects veteran patients with local doctors or specialists. It makes no sense to make a veteran wait 2 months for an appointment when we can refer them to an outside provider right away. I believe PC3 is a difference-maker, and I will continue to insist the VA leadership utilize it on the mental health side. Mr. Speaker, a 2-month wait for mental health patients at the VA is obviously a disservice to our veterans, but it is also a major safety concern for veterans, their families, and the public. It might be uncomfortable to talk about, but the fact is we have a very high suicide rate among veterans. Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day. The tendency is even higher for young, male veterans, the very type that are returning home right now from war. The last thing that we should do is make it harder for veterans to get the treatment that they need. That is why I rise today in support of H.R. 5059, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act. This bipartisan bill aims to, number one, increase access to mental health care for veterans; number two, better meet the demand for mental health professionals; and number three, improve accountability of suicide prevention efforts through the Department of Defense and the VA. The bill is named for Clay Hunt, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning the Purple Heart. He was diagnosed with PTSD and actually worked to raise awareness about problems facing people like him returning home from combat. Like many veterans, Clay ran into roadblocks in his efforts to access care for his PTSD. I encourage everyone to look up Clay Hunt's full story and read about the difficulty he faced getting needed care from the VA. For some veterans, it might sound all too familiar. On March 31, 2011, at the age of 28, Clay took his own life. Clay's story is sad, it is disheartening, and it is infuriating. But what Clay's story is not? It is not uncommon enough, 22 veterans a day. Mr. Speaker, we have a long way to go as a Nation in making sure veterans in need of mental health care aren't left behind, but let's start this week by passing the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, November, 17 2014, I was absent because of travel delays due to weather related activities. If I had been present, I would have voted the following on November 17, 2014: Rollcall 520 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass, H.R. 5162, An Act to allow a certain parcel of land in Rockingham County, Virginia, to be used for a child care center, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with this Congress and with this Nation a story of mismanagement, malfeasance, negligence, and coverup at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, or CAVHCS. I know most of my colleagues can point to at least some problems at the VA systems in their State. But what has transpired in my hometown of Montgomery, Alabama, and central Alabama rises to a level of misconduct and mistrust I am not sure many other systems can match. And I do this not simply just to disparage the system for no reason. I do this to shine a light on some truly disturbing practices so we can finally clean up the mess. I do this so that the 50,000-plus veterans that depend on the Central Alabama VA can one day have confidence in the health care system we promised them. After Phoenix, when the scheduling scheme began to unravel, it was revealed in early June that the Central Alabama VA had one of the worst wait times in the country. It was particularly bad for mental health patients. I actually met with our local VA director, who acknowledged the discrepancies and tried to reassure me by leading me to believe that action had been taken to remove those responsible. It turns out that wasn't true. No one was fired. Mr. Speaker, if a Member of Congress can't get a straight answer from the VA, imagine what our veterans go through every single day. In the wake of this clear breach of trust, we began digging deeper to find out what was really going on at the Central Alabama VA. The information that we received from sources who came forward was alarming. It is also consistent with reports gathered by independent inspectors and some great investigative reporters. Here is what is being uncovered: A Montgomery VA pulmonologist manipulated more than 1,200 patient records to show tests that never occurred. After being caught, the doctor was never fired or suspended. He actually was caught manipulating records again but somehow went on to receive a ``satisfactory'' performance review; At least 900 unread patient X-ray tests, many showing malignancies, were lost over a 5-year period. When the tests were discovered recently, top hospital administrators tried to cover up the problem; Email records show the Central Alabama VA director was alerted to the concerns over patient scheduling practices more than 8 months before taking action; And finally, Mr. Speaker, perhaps the strongest evidence yet has emerged that the rampant scheduling manipulation at Central Alabama wasn't a misunderstanding at all but, rather, a facility-led standard operating procedure. More than 57 percent of staff surveyed at Central Alabama said they received ``instruction'' to manipulate patient wait times, 57 percent. Mr. Speaker, that is off the charts. The national average is 12.7 percent, and other systems near Montgomery aren't even close. There is clearly a systematic problem in Montgomery, and it needs to be corrected. That is why I have joined with Senator Richard Shelby to write the new Secretary of Veterans Administration, Robert McDonald, to call his attention to the Central Alabama VA. Specifically, Senator Shelby and I are asking Secretary McDonald to review these instances of mismanagement, visit CAVHCS with us, and develop a plan of action to reform the Central Alabama system. It is so important to remember that thousands of doctors, nurses, and public servants at the VA work very hard every day to give veteran patients the best health care that we can offer. Their service is honorable, and it is a shame that it is overshadowed now by a system that too often fails those it was created to help. Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow the American people to forget about this. We cannot allow the news media to move on to the next story. I hear from veterans every day who are depending on us to make this right. This will be an uphill battle. I know that. But it is a fight we have to fight. We have to change this culture of complacency. That starts with new leadership, and I look forward to working with Secretary McDonald.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, June 23, 2014, I was absent because of travel delays due to weather related activities. If I had been present, I would have voted the following on June 23, 2014: Rollcall 339 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass, S. 1044, the World War II Memorial Prayer Act, I would have voted ``aye.'' Rollcall 340 on the motion to suspend the rules and concur to the Senate amendment, H.R. 316, the Collinsville Renewable Energy Production Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 194 I was stuck at the airport--flight delay. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 4487--the Fiscal Year 2015 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. For our government to truly remain ``of the people, and by the people'' the House of Representatives must be a place that is open and transparent to all. From ensuring constituents can meet with their elected representatives to guaranteeing open access to the legislative business of Congress, the Legislative Branch must be accessible to the public. We also have a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the U.S. Capitol complex for all who work here and all who visit. Therefore, as a Member of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, one of my priorities has been to provide appropriate oversight regarding the security of the U.S. Capitol complex, including Members, staff, and visitors. I have met personally with House Sergeant of Arms Paul Irving and will continue to follow closely any developments relating to security concerns. I greatly appreciate Mr. Irving and our professional team of Capitol Police officers for the tireless work they put in to protect us and all who visit these hallowed halls. Madam Chair, this bill adequately provides for the needs of the House Sergeant of Arms and the Capitol Police to ensure the necessary steps can be taken to maintain and strengthen security procedures for the entire Capitol complex. Recent events have shown that even the most secure buildings in our country are still susceptible to security lapses. That is why it is more important than ever to remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure we are secure. As I continue to serve on this Subcommittee, it is my responsibility to ask questions, find solutions, and help enact policies to keep members, staff, and guests as safe as reasonably possible. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there is no greater duty that we have as a Nation than to care for our veterans. I am so proud to stand in support of this bill funding critical VA needs like medical care, medical health services, suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury treatment, homeless services, and job training. One way I believe that we can greatly improve VA services is to further develop the Patient-Centered Community Care program. Some services veterans need aren't always offered at their local VA hospital, or, if they are, the waiting list may be really long. In these cases, it only makes sense for the VA to contract out services through local providers and get the veteran patients the care that they need. And offering better care to veterans while saving taxpayer money is a win-win situation. Our committee report for this bill asks the Department of Veterans Affairs to document the successes and efficiencies of Patient-Centered Community Care so we can make the case for allowing more veterans to take advantage of this innovative program. I strongly support this bill.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Alabama's Second Congressional District to lend my support to H.R. 4138, the ENFORCE the Law Act and, of course, to the rule that is being debated here today. I appreciate my friend and colleague from South Carolina, Trey Gowdy, for bringing forth this very important legislation. We are here today to answer one question, Mr. Speaker: Will we stand idly by while an imperial President ignores the rule of law and unravels the separation of powers so carefully woven into our Constitution? The answer is ``no.'' Probably, more than anything else, my constituents ask me: What are we doing to address the pattern of executive overreaches and disregard for the law by President Obama and his administration? Good, God-fearing Americans who work hard, who pay their taxes, and who obey the law are understandably frustrated by a President who acts as though he is above the law. The abuses are well documented: selective enforcement of immigration laws, waiving compliance for ``welfare to work'' laws and what has become almost weekly attempts to delay, waive, or to just not enforce parts of ObamaCare because of the political implications. These are just to name a few. Mr. Speaker, our constitutional constraints on government may not be convenient for the President or for his political or policy goals, but they are necessary for preserving the checks and balances that ensure this government still derives its authority from the people and not the other way around. We now seek the intervention of the judicial branch to rein in the executive branch and reconstitute our proper separation of powers. I believe in our Constitution, and I believe it is worth fighting for. That is why I urge my colleagues to support the ENFORCE the Law Act and the rule and to join the fight to restore the checks and balances.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, today is a monumental day for our nation's agriculture policy. After three years of hard work, today the House of Representatives finally approved a final Farm Bill that provides certainty for our nation's farmers and institutes money-saving reforms to agriculture and nutrition policy that we've needed for some time. Agriculture is our top industry in Alabama, employing more 580,000 Alabamians. Agriculture alone is worth around $70 billion to our state's economy. That is why this bill has been one of my top priorities since being elected to Congress in 2010. This bill is a win for Alabama farmers and foresters. It is also a win for taxpayers. The Farm Bill replaces outdated policies left over from the Pelosi-led Congress and represents a positive step toward fiscal responsibility. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the members of my Agriculture Advisory Panel who have proved so beneficial to my staff and I throughout this process. This group includes a representative from each county in Alabama's Second Congressional District and representatives from a wide variety of commodities and industries. We have held numerous meetings in the District to share ideas, listen to concerns, and discuss a way forward on agriculture policy. I cannot say enough about how much I appreciate these individuals for sharing their time, knowledge, and ideas. One of the provisions included in this Farm Bill is a direct result of a brainstorming session of our Agriculture Advisory Panel. The Farm Bill includes a provision to reduce the amount of land allowed into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), restricting the increasingly- frequent practice of paying landowners to let fertile cropland go unplanted for years. Members of my Agriculture Advisory Panel are: Andy Wendland, Walt Corcoran, Kenny Childree, Tom Duncan, Carl Sanders, Andy Sumblin, Josh Carnley, Salem Saloom, Ricky Wiggins, Rhett Johnson, Tony Beck, Monica Carroll, Albert Curry, Andy Bell, Neil Outlaw, Cindi Fain, Ed White, Gary Mattox, Dale Armstrong, George Jeffcoat, Richard Holladay, Hassey Brooks, Edwin Marty, John Dorrill, and Ed Berry. I also want to mention the hard work of Mike Albares on my personal staff who put in countless hours of work to help me through this process. Mike, a native of Dothan, is well aware of the importance of agriculture to South Alabama, and I appreciate his dedication to our local farmers. I want to thank Chairman Frank Lucas and his staff for their diligent work throughout what has, at times, been a challenging process. I want to recognize Ranking Member Peterson and his team for all that they have done to work across the aisle to get this bill finished. Agriculture policy has almost always been a bi-partisan issue, and this final product is no different. Mr. Speaker, I recognize that this bill isn't perfect. I would have liked to have seen more reforms to nutrition programs, but we will continue to work toward that goal. Undoubtedly, the reforms contained in this Farm Bill are a major step in the right direction. Thank you again to the countless individuals who helped make this Farm Bill happen. I look forward to continuing to be a strong advocate on behalf of Alabama's farmers.

Mrs. ROBY

Mrs. ROBY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Tennessee for her leadership on this. I have been intrigued at the latest rhetoric on the so-called ``war on women.'' I am intrigued because at some point pro-abortion activists stopped using the word ``abortion.'' Instead of using the ``A'' word, they use terms like ``women's health'' or ``reproductive rights.'' It is a clever word game designed to disguise the truth and build artificial support. After all, who would be against the health of women? Who would oppose anyone's right to reproduce? But what about the baby's health? What about the unborn child's ``right'' to life? They don't call it abortion anymore because people understand what abortion is. It is the taking of a life. It is death where life once existed. It is cruel and tragic, and there is no place in the Federal budget for funding it.