Mark Takano

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Lieutenant Colonel Luke Joseph Weathers, Jr., a combat fighter pilot with the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, the first ever African-American air traffic controller in Memphis, and a trailblazing advocate for African Americans' military service. The bill before us, H.R. 6863, would appropriately name the VA's medical center in Memphis, Tennessee, the Lieutenant Colonel Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center. Lieutenant Colonel Weathers embodied service to country in a way that we all can admire. Born in 1922 in Mississippi, Lieutenant Colonel Weathers moved to Memphis, Tennessee, at age 5, the place he would call home for decades after. After graduating from Xavier University in 1942, Lt. Col. Weathers returned to Memphis where he read a newspaper article about the newly created aviation cadet program in Tuskegee, Alabama, one of the first such programs in the country meant for aspiring African-American pilots. Despite the racial discrimination he endured, Lieutenant Colonel Weathers secured a one-on-one meeting with Memphis political boss E.H. Crump, who personally recommended Weathers' nomination to the Tuskegee program to President Roosevelt. From there, Lieutenant Colonel Weathers began his distinguished military service, fighting as a combat pilot among the legendary Red Tails during World War II. His noble accomplishments during the war included shooting down two German planes while protecting U.S. Army Air Corps bombers and shooting down two additional enemy aircraft in Italy while escorting a damaged B-24 Liberator bomber. Even after the war, Lieutenant Colonel Weathers' service to his country continued. In 1960, he became an air traffic control specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration, and soon after he became the first Black air traffic controller in Memphis. Lieutenant Colonel Weathers retired in 1985, all the while serving as a reservist in the military for 23 years. In retirement, he advocated tirelessly on behalf of African Americans in the military, paving the way for generations of citizens to serve this country honorably, just as he did. Lieutenant Colonel Weathers' lifetime of service earned him multiple honors and awards, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007, alongside 300 surviving Tuskegee Airmen. Lieutenant Colonel Weathers passed away in October 2011. Today, he and the Tuskegee Airmen continue to be a symbol of justice, determination, and solidarity, ideals which embody the very best of this country. The naming of the Memphis VA Medical Center in Lieutenant Colonel Weather's honor is a fitting tribute to his lifetime of service. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 6863 from The American Legion, the VFW, and Disabled American Veterans, as well as the Tennessee delegations of the House and Senate. The American Legion, Department of Tennessee, Nashville, TN, February 22, 2022. Hon. Steve Cohen, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Cohen: Please accept this letter as a demonstration of the total support of the American Legion Department of Tennessee, in recognition of renaming the Memphis Veterans Administration Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee as ``Lieutenant Colonel ``Luke'' Weathers Veterans Medical Center.'' Lieutenant Colonel Weathers was a Grenada Mississippi native and was the first-ever black Air Traffic Controller in Memphis. Lieutenant Colonel Weathers was a member of the famed Tuskegee Airman from 1942 to 1945. The Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 missions over North Africa and Europe during the Second World War. Luke downed two German fighter planes that attacked Army Air Force Bombers that he had been charged with escorting. Lt Colonel Weathers, like other Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, conducted missions throughout Northern Africa and Europe for allied Forces and when Lt Colonel Weathers returned to Memphis from the war in 1945, he was presented with a parade down Beale Street and with the job opportunities for a star black pilot were scarce and Luke Weathers was fortunate to obtain a job as the first black air traffic controller at the FAA in Memphis. The American Legion Department of Tennessee would like to honor his amazing legacy of service to God, Country, his fellow veterans, and his community of Memphis, TN with our full support and we wholeheartedly support and encourage the committee to sponsor and support legislation naming the new Aurora Veterans Clinic after this distinguished WWII Veteran. On behalf of the 20,000 members of The American Legion in Tennessee I am proud to fully, endorse this effort. Sincerely, Larry V. Kersey, Commander, The American Legion, Department of Tennessee.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 6863.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6863) to designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Memphis, Tennessee, as the ``Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center''.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen), my very good friend, who is the author of this legislation. He serves on the Committee on the Judiciary as chairman of the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee. He also serves on the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Master Sergeant J.K. Crump, a native of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and a Korean war veteran who embodied the courage and indomitable fighting spirit of our Nation's Armed Forces. This bill, H.R. 5481, as amended, will name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, the Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic. I thank my colleague, Representative Virginia Foxx, for introducing this bill. In early September 1951, Master Sergeant Crump, then an 18-year-old Army rifleman, and fellow members of Company L of the 3rd Infantry Division were attacked by invading Chinese forces near Chorwon, Korea. In the firefight that ensued, Master Sergeant Crump left cover twice: first, to retrieve a wounded comrade, and then again to recapture a machine gun from advancing Chinese soldiers. After returning to his position, an enemy grenade was flung into the foxhole that Master Sergeant Crump shared with four wounded infantrymen. With no regard for his own well-being, Master Sergeant Crump covered the explosives with his own body. The grenade detonated, but miraculously, Master Sergeant Crump survived. The heroism that Master Sergeant Crump displayed that day more than 70 years ago undoubtedly saved the lives of fellow soldiers and rightfully earned him the Medal of Honor, our highest military decoration for valor, which President Truman awarded him in 1952. Master Sergeant Crump went on to serve another 26 years in the U.S. Army before retiring in 1976. He died a year later and was interred at the Mount Zion Community Cemetery in Cornelius, North Carolina. Master Sergeant Crump's actions in combat were emblematic of the selfless sacrifice and devotion to duty that so many who don the uniform of our great Nation display. He, and the generation of those who served alongside him, truly represented the best ideals of our country. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 5481, as amended, from The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans. The American Legion, Department of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, March 16, 2022. Dear Congresswoman Foxx, It is with a great deal of pride that I endorse the naming of the Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, after the Medal of Honor recipient and North Carolina native, Jerry Crump. I am personally familiar with the facility in Forest City. I receive my medical attention at that clinic. The Forest City VA clinic is a wonderful facility, and the staff is outstanding. I have met with the American Legion members in Forest City and in Henrietta, NC who have advocated for the renaming to the Jerry Crump VA Medical Clinic. There are a few older American Legion members that remember attending school with Jerry. The communities of Forest City and Henrietta are proud of the native son and have often advocated for this honor. The American Legion Department of North Carolina does whole heartily support the renaming of the Forest City VA clinic after Medal of Honor Recipient Jerry Crump. The honor of naming a Forest City VA Clinic after this courageous American would be a fitting tribute to Corporal Crump. Respectfully, Jim Quinlan, The American Legion, Department of North Carolina.

Mr. TAKANO. 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 material on H.R. 5481, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5481) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community- based outpatient clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, as the ``Corporal Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic'', as amended.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7903) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Canton, Michigan, as the ``Major General Oliver W. Dillard VA Outpatient Clinic,'' as amended.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I share the sentiment of my colleague from Texas. You cannot be indifferent to the stories as we read the accounts of these great American heroes. I am personally affected by the part of Major General Dillard's history in terms of his opposition to Don't Ask, Don't Tell way before it was overturned. The fact that he himself knew the sting of discrimination and could not brook that this discrimination would apply to any other group of Americans is especially poignant to me. I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan for bringing Major General Dillard to our attention to memorialize him in the way that she has done. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7903, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), who serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I again thank the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens) and all Members of the Michigan delegation for their initiative on this bill. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, S. 4359, which will rename the VA regional office in metropolitan Atlanta the Senator Johnny Isakson Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office. I knew Senator Isakson well from his years of service on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Like many of my colleagues, my enduring memory of Senator Isakson is that he was a reasonable man, a tireless advocate for veterans, and was someone you could work with to find common ground--something that is all too rare in today's political environment. I didn't always agree with Senator Isakson's politics, but I never once questioned his commitment to the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. I worked closely with Senator Isakson on a number of significant bills, including a wide-ranging VA reform bill--the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014--that President Obama signed into law during my first term in office. The bill expanded survivor benefits and educational opportunities and improved care for victims of sexual assault and veterans struggling with traumatic brain injuries while making important strides toward ensuring veterans' access to timely healthcare at VA medical centers. Senator Isakson was heavily involved in other bipartisan initiatives affecting our Nation's veterans, including a 2017 law intended to improve processing of VA benefit appeals and a 2018 law giving VA the authority to expand healthcare access to community providers. These pieces of legislation will have a profound impact on veterans' access to the benefits and services they rightfully earned for generations to come, and we owe Senator Isakson a debt of gratitude for his persistent efforts in seeing these bills through. Senator Isakson was a veteran himself, having served as a young man in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966 to 1972. He ran his family's real estate business for over two decades and ably represented his constituents in the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate before serving in the U.S. House and Senate. He has the distinction of being the longest-serving Republican Senator in Georgia history, and, at a personal level, I cannot think of a more suitable name for this VA facility--where so many civil servants work to provide veterans the benefits they earned--than the Johnny Isakson Regional Office. S. 4359 was introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff, while the House companion was led by Representative Sanford Bishop of Georgia's Second Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 4359 from The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans, as well as the Georgia delegation. The American Legion, Department of Georgia, June 14, 2022. Hon. Jon Tester, Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Mark Takano, Chairman, U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Jerry Moran, Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Mike Bost, Ranking Member, U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affair, Washington, DC. Dear Honorable Gentlemen of the U.S. Congress: The American Legion Department of Georgia is in full support of S-4359: the Senator Johnny Isakson VA Regional Act of 2022. We respectfully implore and sincerely request that the U.S. Congress favorably considers naming the regional office of the Department of Veterans Affairs in metropolitan Atlanta as the ``Senator Johnny Isakson Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office''. Senator Isakson's distinguished himself as a tireless and unrelenting advocate who championed reform to improve the benefits and quality of service for our Nation's veterans. It is our solid and steadfast position that this Act will be the hallmark tribute to a fellow Georgian who labored to bring about better and improved healthcare and quality veterans' services. We are indebted to our veterans for their service and sacrifice. Senator Isakson recognized the debt and devoted his efforts as Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate ``to make right the master of might''. Naming the Atlanta VA Regional Office in honor of Senator Isakson is a step in the right direction for the sake of veterans of the great State of Georgia and the veterans across this great Nation. For God and Country. . . Mark Shreve, (For Z.C. Debro, Dept. Adjutant), State Commander, Department of Georgia.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7277, the Improving Oversight of Veterans Community Care Providers Act, as amended, a bill that will take important steps toward ensuring that healthcare providers meet the eligibility requirements and standards of VA's Community Care Program. I thank Representative Chris Pappas, chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, for his work on this bipartisan bill. I was disturbed by a recent Government Accountability Office report requested by Chairman Pappas and Ranking Member Tracey Mann, which identified approximately 1,600 healthcare providers who were deceased, ineligible to work with the Federal Government, or who had revoked or suspended medical licenses, yet were still listed as active providers in VA's Community Care networks. While the number of ineligible providers was a small fraction of the roughly 1.2 million active providers in VA's Community Care networks, they still represented a potential threat to veteran health and safety, and a risk for financial fraud. Congressman Pappas' bill would require VA to implement GAO's recommendations to ensure veterans and taxpayers are not put at risk. The bill will modify standard operating procedures at the VA Health Administration and require continuous matching of providers' information against several data sources in order to verify eligibility, such as the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities that the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General maintains, the National Practitioner Data Bank, and the monthly deactivation file of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This will go a long way toward ensuring that physicians and other providers in VA's Community Care networks meet the basic and necessary standards, such as proper and current licensing requirements. This bill has the support of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will have no significant impact on direct spending or deficits. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), my good friend, who is the author of this legislation and who serves as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of a remarkable Californian, Master Sergeant Richard Allan Pittman, by naming VA's brand-new, state-of-the-art outpatient clinic in French Camp, California, the Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic. I thank my friend and colleague, Representative Jerry McNerney of California, for leading this legislation, which will appropriately pay tribute to Master Sergeant Pittman, a marine who served his Nation with honor and distinction during and after the Vietnam war. A native of the San Joaquin Valley, Master Sergeant Pittman was born in French Camp, California, in 1945 and graduated from Franklin High School in nearby Stockton in 1964. Declared legally blind in one eye, Master Sergeant Pittman was considered medically unfit for combat by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, but he did not let that deter him. Set on serving in the military, Master Sergeant Pittman somehow bluffed a vision test and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1965. He was soon deployed to Vietnam. On July 24, 1966, as his unit moved along a narrow jungle path near the demilitarized zone, marines ahead of him came under heavy fire. Master Sergeant Pittman immediately leaped into action, grabbing a machine gun and several belts of ammunition as he rushed to his comrades' defense. Facing a frontal assault by dozens of North Vietnamese troops, Master Sergeant Pittman boldly repelled the enemy attack by using a combination of weapons he had at his disposal. His actions that day no doubt saved the lives of several wounded marines. For this ``conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life,'' Master Sergeant Pittman was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Johnson in 1968. He was discharged from the service that year, but Master Sergeant Pittman chose to reenlist. He went on to serve another 18 years in the Marines before retiring in 1988. He died in 2016 at the age of 71. In addition to the Medal of Honor, the U.S. Armed Forces' highest declaration for valor, Master Sergeant Pittman also received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. These distinctions, like the naming of this VA clinic, are just symbols, however. The true measure of Master Sergeant Pittman's character was revealed to the world on that July day in 1966 and is evident in the lives of the marines that he saved. I am humbled to be able to honor Master Sergeant Pittman's service, and I am proud to count him among the brave and dutiful servicemen and -women who have fought for centuries in defense of the American ideals we hold so dear. Mr. Speaker I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 6722 from the California delegation, as well as The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, August 1, 2022. Chairman Jon Tester, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Chairman Mark Takano, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Jerry Moran, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Mike Bost, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Tester, Chairman Takano, Ranking Member Moran, and Ranking Member Bost: We write in support of H.R. 6722, legislation that would designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French Camp, California, as the Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic. In July of 2021, Congressman McNerney appointed a committee of five veterans to collect and review potential names for the clinic. He called upon local veterans to submit name suggestions to be considered for the process. The committee ultimately recommended naming the facility after the late Richard A. Pittman, a highly decorated veteran who was the embodiment of bravery and service. Richard Pittman was born in French Camp and enlisted in the Marines in 1965. On July 24th, 1966, his unit was moving along a trail near the Demilitarized Zone in the Republic of Vietnam when the Marines ahead of them came under attack. Upon hearing this, Pittman took a machine gun and several belts of ammunition and rushed to aid his comrades. As he moved towards the attacked Marines, Pittman came under heavy fire from two automatic weapons, which he was able to destroy. When he learned there were additional wounded Marines further along the trail, he endured enemy mortar and gun fire to get to them. As he reached his fellow service members, he faced an attack by 30 to 40 enemy fighters, and used a combination of machine-gun fire, an enemy submachine gun, a pistol from a fallen comrade, and a grenade to cause the enemy forces to withdraw. His actions that day saved many wounded comrades, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 14, 1968. We urge you to swiftly advance H.R. 6722 to recognize this heroic veteran and his immense contribution to our nation. We believe the Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic will serve countless veterans throughout the region and uphold our promise to those who gave our country their all. Sincerely, Jerry McNerney, Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator, Nancy Pelosi, Member of Congress, Mark Takano, Josh Harder, Alex Padilla, Kevin McCarthy, Jared Huffman, Scott H. Peters, Karen Bass, Jackie Speier, Ami Bera, M.D., Judy Chu, Katie Porter, Grace F. Napolitano, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Jim Costa, Jimmy Panetta, Members of Congress. Ken Calvert, Jay Obernolte, Anna G. Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren, J. Luis Correa, Sara Jacobs, Tony Cardenas, Young Kim, John Garamendi, Raul Ruiz, M.D., Ted Lieu, Juan Vargas, Nanette Diaz Barragan, Mark DeSaulnier, Linda T. Sanchez, Julia Brownley, Alan Lowenthal, Brad Sherman, Barbara Lee, Mike Levin, Members of Congress. Eric Swalwell, Michelle Steel, Adam B. Schiff, Mike Thompson, Tom McClintock, Norma J. Torres, Pete Aguilar, Doris Matsui, Mike Garcia, Doug LaMalfa, Ro Khanna, Darrell Issa, Maxine Waters, Connie Conway, Salud Carbajal, David G. Valadao, Jimmy Gomez, Members of Congress.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6722) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French Camp, California, as the ``Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic''.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney), my friend, the author of this legislation, who serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Mr. TAKANO. 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 material on H.R. 6722.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 7299, the Strengthening VA Cybersecurity Act of 2022. This bill represents a bipartisan, bicameral effort to oversee the Department of Veterans Affairs' cybersecurity efforts. This legislation requires independent assessment of the VA's cybersecurity readiness by a federally funded research and development center, or FFRDC. This bill is necessary because of the poor performance of VA in audits required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, also known as FISMA, and independent audits from the VA OIG on individual VA sites. The bill also seeks to address the issue of ``shadow IT'' which is has been a priority of the committee this Congress. If VA does not know what is on its networks and can't identify assets being utilized outside of the Office of Information Technology, then VA can't secure it. VA's repository of veterans' health information needs to be protected. We owe it to veterans to address these challenges now so that Congress and veterans can be assured that VA will secure their personal information. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 7299, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 7299, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Reform Act requires VA to report on the cost, schedule, and performance information for major information technology projects. A major information technology project is a project that exceeds $500 million in total life cycle costs. H.R. 2250, as amended, also requires VA to ensure that each major IT project is managed by an interdisciplinary team. The bill is necessary due to the numerous issues that the VA has had with technology modernization and management of its major IT programs. This bill provides Congress with key information to conduct proper oversight over those programs. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill. I urge all my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing this important piece of legislation, H.R. 5721, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.