Dina Titus

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, today is the 1-year anniversary of the historic decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. We celebrate the progress we have made for LGBT equality; but, more importantly, we must recommit to ending the injustice that remains. An announcement last week by the administration regarding ongoing efforts to extend Federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples in the wake of that Windsor decision clarifies what I have long suspected. Unless Congress acts, legally married same-sex servicemembers, veterans, and their spouses will continue to face discrimination when accessing their benefits from the VA. That is why, nearly a year ago, I introduced H.R. 2529, the Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act. This bipartisan legislation ensures that no veterans or their families are denied benefits they deserve, regardless of where they live. Members of the military do not serve in defense of the rights and freedoms of a particular State, but rather of the United States. My colleagues have a choice to stand with our veterans and their families or stand silent while they continue to face discrimination by the very government they fought to defend.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, Nevada lost a good man and I lost a good friend this past week when Jim Rogers lost his long battle with cancer at the age of 75. Those who knew or briefly encountered Jim quickly realized that he had no fear. His business acumen, philanthropic generosity, and ferocious passion for learning made him a true game changer. Whether it was improving higher education or strengthening the integrity of the media, Jim never shied away from his convictions or backed down from his steadfast commitment to progress and quality. He started the conversation, directed the dialogue, and produced results that propelled Nevada, sometimes kicking and screaming, towards a brighter future. My thoughts go out to his wife, Beverly; his son, his other family members, and the people who worked with him and for him at Channel 3. They brought the world into our living rooms every evening. We will miss him very much and so will they.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following Las Vegas Review- Journal news article: Nevada Leaders Remember Media Titan, Education Leader Jim Rogers, Dead at 75 [From The Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 15, 2014] Philanthropist, education advocate and media pioneer Jim Rogers, 75, died Saturday night following a lengthy battle with cancer. Friends will always remember him as a man with passion. In addition to owning KSNV-TV, Channel 3, in Las Vegas, Rogers served as the ninth chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education from 2005-09, after serving one year as interim chancellor. ``He was very strong-minded on certain things,'' said former UNLV President Carol Harter, who worked with Rogers when he was chancellor of the Board of Regents. ``It was never dull.'' Rogers famously harried Harter out of her position at the university in 2006, but later became her friend and ally. In 2013, he donated $10 million to the Black Mountain Institute, UNLV's graduate-level creative writing program. And Rogers backed Harter to serve as interim president of the university when Neal Smatresk suddenly stepped down. Harter attributed Rogers' generosity to his wife, Beverly Rogers. ``He wanted to honor her through that gift,'' she said. ``I can't tell you how grateful we are. That started many opportunities.'' Harter added that as part of the donation, Rogers requested the name of the program and the building be named for his wife. Toward the end of his life, he saw how important it was to his wife that she assume some of his legacy of fighting for higher education, she said. ``He was the most interesting man,'' Harter said. ``Right to the end, he was energetic.'' Not only was Rogers vocal about who should step in as interim president at UNLV, but he was not shy about sharing his opinions on elections to the Board of Regents. ``He made it his personal mission to fight for higher education funding when he was chancellor and continued that work after he returned to the private sector,'' said Kevin Page, chairman of the Board of Regents, whom Rogers' adamantly endorsed on Twitter the night before he died. ``Improving Nevada's education system was Jim's way of giving back to the community.'' And Rogers' work in education was not confined to Nevada. Rogers made the largest gift to a law school in history at the time to the University of Arizona. Rogers graduated from the law school in 1962. His son also went there and now the school is named after him. ``This wasn't just a man who put his support and name on the school. He actually cared,'' said Marc Miller, dean of the James E. Rogers College of Law. ``He wanted to change the world.'' Miller said students loved Rogers, who frequently came to give speeches and engage the community. He was always taking students to lunch and coming up with ways to improve their law school experience. ``Jim had no shortage of ideas. I wish I could have had many more years of his friendship and council,'' Miller said. ``We're all feeling it. Everyone here is in shock.'' In addition to his philanthropic record, Rogers will also be remembered as a media pioneer. ``Jim was a mercurial, fiery and passionate man who changed the face of local television,'' politics reporter and TV personality Jon Ralston wrote in an email. ``He didn't care about ratings. He wanted his legacy to be providing as much real news to viewers, no matter the cost. It was a bold and visionary step.'' ``I remember when he took me back to New York to meet with NBC executives to inform them of his plan to turn KSNV into a local version of CNN. They looked at him like he was crazy. And you know what? He didn't care.'' Ralston, whose show ``Ralston Reports'' airs on Channel 3, said Rogers changed his life. ``(Rogers) quietly tried to woo me to come to KSNV for many years before it happened. He gave me a statewide audience and had confidence in me from the start,'' Ralston wrote. ``I will never forget that. I will miss him.'' A Las Vegas native, Rogers founded Valley Broadcasting Co. in 1971 and won FCC approval to operate an NBC affiliate, Channel 3, in 1979. He parlayed that into Sunbelt Communications, which grew into 14 TV stations in five Mountain states, including three in Nevada. Others were in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Arizona. Sunbelt's title was changed to Intermountain West Communications Co. about five years ago. KSNV president and chief operating officer Lisa Poe- Howfield described Rogers as tough, unfiltered, kind and charismatic. ``You always knew exactly where you stood with him, and I appreciated that,'' she said. In January, the Review-Journal learned of a Channel 3 meeting in which Rogers revealed he was having another bout with cancer. Rogers fought off bladder cancer about seven years ago, but he said station employees would still have a job no matter what happened. A Channel 3 insider who attended the meeting said Rogers made it clear that when he ``goes, everything goes to (his wife) Beverly, and when she goes, everything goes to the colleges.'' Poe-Howfield said she plans to keep working to fulfill Rogers' wishes for the station. ``He has always wanted the station to be the station of record for the people,'' she said. ``That was his vision, and I plan to continue that.'' Channel 3 will be airing special segments highlighting Rogers' life each day this week, she said. ``As much as we thought we would be prepared, somewhere in the back of my mind I thought if anyone could beat cancer, it would be Jim,'' she said. Several prominent Nevadans issued statements Sunday that highlight Rogers' philanthropy and charisma. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he has known Rogers for a long time. ``Jim and I were contemporaries while practicing law, and what a terrific lawyer he was,'' Reid said. ``And his talents were not limited to law. What he has done in the communications world is record-setting, and not just in Nevada but in the Western United States. What he has done in education is superb. ``His philanthropic endeavors are unsurpassed in the state of Nevada. He was my friend and his friendship to me I will always remember.'' Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, and Reps. Dina Titus and Steven Horsford, both D-Nev., also expressed their condolences in statements. ``With the passing of Jim Rogers, Nevada has lost one of its most outspoken and fearless advocates,'' Sandoval said. ``Jim was nationally recognized as a successful philanthropist and business leader. In the state of Nevada, he was so much more. Jim dedicated his time and resources to advancing our education system and as chancellor of higher education, was fierce in his commitment to make sure our students had the resources they needed to succeed.'' Horsford said Rogers had a huge impact on Nevada, and he will be missed. Titus touched on Rogers' big personality. ``Jim Rogers had no fear,'' she said. ``His business acumen, philanthropic generosity, and ferocious passion for learning made him a true game changer. He started the conversation, directed the dialogue, and produced results that propelled Nevada, sometimes kicking and screaming, toward a brighter future.'' Former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller, a Democrat, praised Rogers for his commitment to education. ``Jim Rogers was the exemplary role model for giving back to the community,'' he said in a statement. ``His particular passion and devotion to education, specifically his unmatched generosity and resolute attention for higher education, is a legacy that will be a challenge for us all to live up to.'' ``We in Nevada have lost one of our most vocal leaders for increasing education opportunities.'' Funeral arrangements for Rogers have not been finalized as of Sunday.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Democratic motion to instruct conferees. As a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am working hard to ensure that veterans in Las Vegas and around the country have access to high-quality health care in a timely fashion. I believe the Sanders-McCain compromise bill that passed the Senate 93-3 makes great strides towards meeting this goal. Specifically, I would like to highlight two provisions of the Sanders-McCain compromise that should be passed as soon as possible. Both pieces are legislation that I have introduced to help veterans and their families. The first is H.R. 3441, the Spouses of Heroes Education Act. This legislation amends the post-9/11 GI Bill to expand the Fry Scholarship by making surviving spouses of members of the armed services eligible for the benefit program. This scholarship provides full in-State tuition, fees, a monthly living stipend, and a book allowance to children of servicemembers who have died in the line of duty. And for the first time, this change would extend to spouses the same benefit. The second is H.R. 2527, the National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act, which would include extended counseling and treatment to servicemembers who have suffered sexual trauma while serving on inactive duty training. This legislation recently passed the House with unanimous bipartisan support. Other provisions addressing the claims backlog, access to non-VA health care, and reform of scheduling and personnel problems are also critical to include. So, as the conferees begin their work, it is important that we continue to keep the best interests of our Nation's heroes and their families in mind, that we put aside partisan differences, and that we work expeditiously to try and solve the problems that we have discovered at the VA.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to join with my colleagues, Representatives Kelly and Cohen, to introduce this amendment to increase the summer food program for children by $3 million. Across the country, one of every five children is at risk of going hungry. In Nevada, more than 233,000 children qualify for free or reduced lunch. That means that 54 percent of Nevada's students come from low-income households that struggle with hunger. While these children can eat free and reduced-price lunch during the school year, the vast majority are left without adequate nutrition during the summer. The Summer EBT program is a pilot program that helps fill this gap by providing eligible families with additional SNAP benefits during the summer months. It works. In 2012, it served almost 67,000 children who might have otherwise gone hungry. The participation in this program is dramatically higher than in other programs, serving up to 75 percent of eligible children. That is why I believe that we should meet the President's budget request and increase funding to feed as many hungry children as possible. A vacation from school shouldn't mean a hungry child.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding to me. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I rise in support of H.R. 4810. This important legislation will allow our Nation's heroes to access health care outside the VA for the next 2 years. If even one veteran who has been waiting a long time for an appointment through the VA is able to receive care more quickly in the private sector, then we should give him or her that opportunity. But this alone won't solve the problem. More must be done. We have known for a while that the VA facilities across the United States do not have enough doctors and nurses on staff to meet the growing demand for care. This is not a problem that is just isolated to the VA. As I discussed in our hearing last night, allowing veterans to access care in the private sector will help in some areas of the United States, but in many cities and rural areas across the country there is also a shortage of care in the private sector. In Nevada, for example, we have for a long time had a chronic shortage of doctors, both in primary care and among specialists. When comparing the number of health care workers relative to State population, Nevada ranks 46th in the Nation for general and family practitioners, 50th for psychiatrists, and 51st for general surgeons. So, as a result, veterans aren't the only ones who are waiting for health care. Everyone is affected. Adding more patients to an already burdened system will not be a panacea. That is why I am working with members of the committee on legislation that will shore up our VA health care system by increasing the number of medical residency programs at VA hospitals in areas that are facing a physician shortage. By increasing our investment in physician training, we will not only help our veterans in the short run, but we will be taking a step toward addressing the long-term nationwide physician shortage. I hope that I will find support for that as we move forward, and I thank the chairman for his work on this important issue.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, over the last 50 years, women have broken barriers in business, science, education, and government; yet in Nevada, the average woman still makes only 85 cents for every dollar a man earns, so that leads to a pay gap of more than $6,300 every year. This not only harms individual women, it hurts their families, our communities, and the national economy. In a country where we strive for equal opportunity for all, this inequity is simply unacceptable. That is why I am calling on my Republican colleagues to bring the Paycheck Fairness Act to the floor for a vote. How can they say to their wives, ``You deserve less pay than I do?'' How can they say to their daughters, ``You are worth less than my sons?'' How can they tell their staff that the women aren't as valuable as the men? It is just unconscionable. So I say pass this bill now because when women succeed, Nevada succeeds, and America succeeds.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Ms. TITUS. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa.

Ms. TITUS. Madam Chair, after speaking with the committee, I plan to withdraw my amendment, but I want to take a moment to speak on the underlying issue because I think it is very important. Madam Chair, my amendment would prohibit the Department from engaging in rulemaking to allow the use of voice communication devices in flight, in other words, cell phones. When the Federal Communications Commission first floated the idea of allowing cell phone usage on airplanes, the response from the American people was so clear you could hear a pin drop, something that would not be possible if you were surrounded by people chatting on their phones on an airplane. Polling has consistently shown 2-1 opposition to allowing passengers to make voice calls in flight. In February of this past year, I, along with my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, voted unanimously to approve H.R. 3676, which was introduced by Chairman Shuster, that has the same goal of the amendment I put forward today. At a time when we document every moment of our lives over Twitter and Facebook and Instagram, the last thing the traveling public needs is to sit next to someone having a loud, one-sided conversation on a cross- country flight. Now, this isn't just a matter of comfort and good manners; it is also a matter of safety. For our flight attendants who are charged with the safety and security of travelers in-flight, cell phone use will exacerbate potential conflict among passengers and will create distractions from crew instructions both prior to takeoff and during flights, so it would be dangerous for all on board. I thank the chairman and the ranking member for this opportunity to speak on this important issue, and I hope that although this amendment doesn't move forward, H.R. 3676 will receive floor consideration in due time.

Ms. TITUS. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, the Nevada delegation comes before you with a heavy heart this evening in the wake of yesterday's tragic events in Las Vegas. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, two individuals who had recently moved to southern Nevada and participated in the Cliven Bundy resistance walked into a neighborhood pizza parlor. Carrying swastikas and the Gadsden flag and spouting antigovernment rhetoric, they shot and killed two police officers having lunch. They then killed an innocent bystander shopping at a nearby department store. The officers, Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo, were both veterans of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, with a combined 21 years on the force. Officer Beck leaves behind a wife and three children, and Officer Soldo leaves behind a wife and a baby. Joseph Robert Wilcox, 31, also of Las Vegas, was shopping when the two killers entered the department store and lost his life attempting to intervene. Tonight, we ask you to join us in honoring the lives of these three victims of senseless violence, in mourning their family's devastating loss, in praying for all who have suffered as a result of these horrible events, and in commending Metro for its effective action and steadfast commitment to protecting our community even under the worst of circumstances. I ask that the Members join us in a moment of silence.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am honored to join with my colleagues from that committee to mark the 70th anniversary of D-day. Nevada's heroes have played a critical role in our country's armed services throughout history, from the Air Force pilots that have been deployed from Nellis Air Force Base to our National Guard's 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry Unit that has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. For generations, our democracy has been defended by those who have given so much. Next week marks the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy. At no other time in history has an amphibious assault occurred on that scale. On June 6, 1944, 156,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy knowing that they may not survive, and many didn't. They were bombarded by bullets and shells and bombs, but without hesitation they marched on. In that one day, the United States lost 6,603 brave soldiers. Nevada Senator Howard Cannon was one of the American heroes who risked his life on that fateful day. He piloted the chief troop-carrier airplane, leading 44 others from Exeter, England, across the English Channel to France. In the middle of a hot June night, at 11:50 p.m. on June 5, he took off, the plane departed, the Stoy Hora, carrying paratroopers who jumped into France just a little while later. A few days after that, on June 17, Senator Cannon was shot down over the Netherlands and survived 42 days behind enemy lines. He is one of the heroes whose story is told in the book and movie ``A Bridge Too Far.'' I am fortunate that I was able to serve as Senator Cannon's faculty intern here in 1982. Every day in my district office, I have the unique privilege of sitting behind Senator Cannon's desk. It is a constant reminder of the many different forms that heroism takes. From the foot soldier at Normandy struggling against the waves to gain the beach to the switch operator back in the United States ensuring that the communications went through; from the admirals to the privates; from the artillerymen to the spies, there were many heroes who showed up on that day that changed history. These brave men and women have been called ``the Greatest Generation'' by Tom Brokaw for a reason. Like many of you, I have family members who fought in World War II: an uncle, a father-in-law, two of my husband's uncles. Their valor and courage stand as an example to all of us as we continue to battle injustice today. So, to all of those who risked their lives on those beaches in Normandy and beyond and to the families of those who perished on those foreign shores, fighting for democracy and freedom, I say a heartfelt thank you, and our grateful Nation owes you a debt that it can never repay.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak in favor of the amendment offered by my colleague Congressman Delaney. This amendment would increase funding for Pay for Success programs within the Department of Justice to reduce recidivism and improve reentry services for individuals returning to their communities after incarceration. It shifts funds from the federal prison system to support these programs because if we can reduce recidivism, we will reduce the number of people in our criminal justice system. The Pay for Success model allows the government to use limited resources wisely. We can invest in innovative social programs intended to improve lives while only paying for those that actually make a difference. The United States releases 700,000 prisoners every year. Most of these individuals struggle to find a job or a place to stay. Within three years, two-thirds of them are back in prison. We need to do more to help them turn their lives around and stop this vicious cycle, but we also need to ensure that our efforts are effective. This amendment will help us do both.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, for the District of Columbia and 22 States, including Nevada, with laws in place allowing the legal use of some form of marijuana for medical purposes, this commonsense amendment simply ensures that patients do not have to live in fear when following the laws of their States and the recommendations of their doctors. Physicians in those States will not be prosecuted for prescribing the substance, and local businesses will not be shut down for dispensing the same. I urge you vote in favor.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I would just conclude my remarks and urge all my colleagues to support this legislation and, again, thank the chairman for working with me to bring it to the floor. We want to send it to the Senate and urge them to pass it quickly and on to the President for his signature. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 2527, the National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act. Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank Mr. Benishek, the chairman of the Health Subcommittee; Ms. Brownley, the ranking member of the Health Subcommittee; and especially Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud for working with me on this very important issue. The bill before you is bipartisan legislation which addresses an unacceptable gap in the current law that effectively leaves some victims of military sexual assault without the support and treatment they need. Members of the National Guard and other reserve components of our armed services have fought bravely for our country, many completing multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since the attacks on September 11, more than 50,000 guardsmen and guardswomen have been called to service, both at home and abroad. We recognize the value of the National Guard and other reserve components, and thank them for their service. Unfortunately, some, like members of the other Armed Forces, are victimized by sexual assault while on Active Duty. If that happens, they are provided all the VA resources and services they need to recover and heal, both physically and emotionally. Such benefits, however, are not offered to members of the National Guard and other reserve components who experience sexual assault while on inactive training missions. Members of the Guard are required to participate in training missions one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year, but benefits and services, such as counseling and Medicare, do not extend to victims sexually assaulted during these mandatory training missions. This omission is simply unacceptable and leaves so many who have served our country without any assistance or support during a devastating time. The National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act would fix this problem and clarify that all victims of sexual trauma in the National Guard or other reserve components have access to the care they need, whether they are on Active Duty or on a required training mission. We must make it a priority to change the culture of the military and put an end to acts of sexual trauma within our armed services. Until we do, however, we must be sure that we provide all victims the treatment they need and deserve. I am proud that many veterans service organizations support this important legislation to ensure that all Guard members who are ``always ready, always there'' to protect our country receive the same support in return from their government. So, Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent from Nevada's First Congressional District, Robert Isham. A young Mr. Isham enlisted in the United States Navy on November 4, 1942, in Seattle, Washington. He then attended Basic Training in San Diego, California. Following his graduation from the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma, where he was trained to be an Aviation Machinist Mate, he was transferred to the Virginia Naval Air Station in Norfolk, Virginia. On September 17, 1943, Mr. !sham was seriously injured in an explosion and fire at the Virginia Naval Air Station when a 300 pound depth charge exploded, setting off a chain reaction of 23 more charges. Thirty-three aircraft and at least 15 buildings across the base were destroyed. Many were killed and a number of individuals, including Mr. Isham, were badly hurt. Following a three month stay at Norfolk Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia, Mr. !sham bravely returned to duty and was transferred to Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island, where he taught courses on aircraft structures. Following a year in Rhode Island, Mr. Isham was transferred to Corvallis, Oregon, and became a Plane Captain on a F4U Corsair fighter aircraft. Mr. Isham was discharged from the United States Navy on December 10, 1945. He was only rated as 10% disabled as a result of shrapnel wounds sustained during the tragic explosion in Norfolk, Virginia. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Recently, my office in Las Vegas worked with Robert and the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase his disability rating to 100%, ensuring he receives the benefits he deserved. Mr. Speaker, as we approach Memorial Day, we will take time to remember many members of the Greatest Generation who have passed away. Today, I ask the House to pause for a moment of gratitude in honor of my constituent, Mr. Robert ``Bob'' Isham, a member of the Greatest Generation and a decorated American hero.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, sex trafficking is a growing problem. According to the Polaris Project, some 27 million people worldwide are victims of sex trafficking, of which 1 million are children. Just last year in Nevada, 107 children were recovered after being victimized by traffickers. And we don't even know how many others wait for our help. That is why I am pleased to vote today on several bills intended to strengthen the punishments for perpetrators, increase protections for potential victims, and ensure that victims are given the support they need to recover and rebuild their lives. I am also encouraged that we are coming together to condemn the horrendous kidnapping of the girls in Nigeria, whose only crime was to seek an education. Sex trafficking is horrific. It must be stopped. It denies the fundamental rights and dignity of its victims. Today, we can take a step in that direction. We can take action to speak for those who have no voice. So I encourage my colleagues to join me with a resounding ``aye'' on this package of bills.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, last week, during the VA approps debate, I spoke about Madelynn Taylor, a veteran being denied the right to be interred with her spouse, Jean, in the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery because they are lesbians. Idaho does not recognize their marriage and is denying the couple the honor and dignity earned through Madelynn's service in the U.S. Navy. Clearly, LGBT veterans continue to face discrimination. Nearly a year after the landmark decision striking down DOMA, the VA still does not have a clear policy to ensure all veterans and their spouses have access to their earned benefits. In response to the situation, Idaho resident and 27-year Army veteran, Colonel Barry Johnson, offered Madelynn and Jean his plot at the State cemetery stating: Madelynn loves her country. She wants her partner by her side, and she wants to eternally rest among veterans in the State she made home. She deserves that. We need more people like the colonel here in Congress, willing to speak up on behalf of all our veterans and their families who deserve to receive the benefits that they have earned.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. As the ranking member of the Disability Assistance Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the Veterans' Affairs authorizing committee, I rise today in support of this appropriations bill, and I thank the chairman and the ranking member for the hard work that they put into this bill. One of the main reasons that I support it is because it furthers our goal of eliminating the VA benefits backlog, which is an issue our committee has worked on daily for the last year and a half. One of my top priorities is ensuring that our Nation's heroes receive all the benefits they have earned in a timely fashion. While I support this bill, I would like to take just a minute or two to raise an issue that is troubling to me and hope to bring it to the attention of the other Members of the House. I know many of my colleagues will be deeply saddened to learn that some veterans and their families across the country are being denied the benefits that they earned while serving our Nation. A recent example of this discrimination against some of our Nation's veterans was highlighted in a report by CBS News just last week. Seventy-four-year-old Madelynn Taylor of Boise, Idaho, proudly served her country in the United States Navy for 6 years. She lost her spouse in 2012 and soon after began the task of making arrangements to ensure that the two of them would be together in death just as they were in life. Being a veteran, Madelynn had the right to be interred at a State or national veterans cemetery. Since the closest national cemetery to Boise was nearly 8 hours away in western Oregon, Madelynn decided to inquire about a joint spot and memorial wall with her and her spouse's ashes to lay in rest together, just as hundreds of other couples have done, at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in her hometown of Boise. The Idaho State Veterans Cemetery was opened a decade ago with 100 percent of the funding for the design, construction, and equipment costs coming from a Federal grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' State Cemetery Grants Program, and the cemetery continues to receive Federal funding for operations. When Madelynn brought the necessary paperwork, including her discharge papers and marriage certificate, she was told that she and her spouse would not be allowed to be buried together. Why, you ask, was she denied this right? The answer is that Madelynn is a lesbian. Idaho State law does not recognize the legality of a marriage between Madelynn and her wife, Jean, and therefore is denying the couple the honor and dignity earned through Madelynn's service as a member of the United States Navy. Madelynn said this of her situation: I just feel that it's the right place for me. I am a veteran, so they should let me . . . in fact, they would let me alone be in that crypt, but I don't want to be alone. I want Jean with me. We rightfully elevate our veterans and their families because of their service and sacrifice, yet today some veterans across the country face discrimination by the States and the Federal Government they sought to defend. No veteran or their family should be treated as second-class citizens. Nearly a year after the landmark Supreme Court decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, which effectively extended Federal benefits to legally married couples, we see the Nation's gay and lesbian veterans face obstacles accessing the benefits that they have earned and rightfully deserve. While in uniform, our LGBT soldiers have access to the full complement of benefits available to members of the armed services. The second they transition out of the military, they are forced to leave these benefits behind. I have introduced legislation to end this disservice, and I invite my colleagues to join me in supporting this important effort. Mr. Chairman, today we debate legislation to fund the critical work of the VA and the earned benefits of our Nation's heroes and their families. My hope is that this body will give equal attention to all our veterans and their families and end the discrimination they experience when seeking benefits, including the right to be buried with their legally married, same-sex spouses. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise on National Animal Advocacy Day to announce the introduction of the Animal Emergency Planning Act of 2014. This bill would require entities regulated under the Animal Welfare Act to develop a plan for how they will respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and manmade, that would most likely occur in their facilities. Regulated animal breeding facilities, commercial animal dealers, transporters, exhibitors, and research facilities would be required to submit plans to the USDA annually and to train their employees on the contingency plans and procedures. Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, as well as other recent disasters, have highlighted the need for planning to minimize the impact of these disasters on animals, which can have devastating effects. Local first responders, nongovernmental agencies, and private individuals in the past have often ended up shouldering the cost and taking on the responsibility of protecting and caring for these animals. It is only fair and reasonable to require emergency readiness plans from those in these businesses. So please join me in cosponsoring this legislation.