Mark Takano

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Carbajal), a strong advocate for veterans, a marine veteran himself and my good friend.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have the urge to say ``oorah.'' I thank the gentleman for his service to our country, not only as a Representative but also as a marine veteran. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner).

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Landsman for his amazing advocacy for our Nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my good friend from the State of New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, Representative Melanie Stansbury.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for her work on the section of the PACT Act that relates to justice for those servicemembers who were in residence at Camp Lejeune. It is a decades-long effort to bring justice for those members, and I urge our government to move as expeditiously as possible to get those claims settled with all of our veterans across the country who have served at Camp Lejeune. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend from Ohio, a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and a fierce advocate for veterans, Representative Greg Landsman.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Kennedy for hitting the ground running as one of our newest Representatives. I know he is going to be getting the message out to the veterans who live in his district to make sure that they submit their PACT Act claims and to access the benefits that they have earned through their service. When President Biden signed the Honoring our PACT Act, he declared that every eligible veteran should be able to apply immediately. We had written the law in such a way that the healthcare and benefits would be phased in, but President Biden decided that every veteran should be able to apply for benefits as soon as it became law. Within 24 hours, the Department of Veterans Affairs had created a website where veterans and their families could learn more about the law and how to apply for benefits. This shows how committed President Biden has been with House Democrats to support the veteran community. He understood what a difference this important law would make for veterans, and he did not want them to wait to be able to apply. The successful implementation of the PACT Act shows that the Biden Administration was invested in helping veterans and implemented this law far faster than most laws. We all know, and we all knew veterans and their families could not wait any longer. This was many years coming for veterans who were already facing illness or cancer from toxic exposure, and many of these veterans were able to get updated disability ratings and access to healthcare. I find it odd that while the PACT Act is sometimes known as the burn pits bill, when we talk about veterans waiting for decades, the PACT Act actually addressed Agent Orange claims and exposure to Agent Orange that had not been covered by previous legislation. So this took care of unfinished business with Agent Orange and exposure to radiation. So those veterans who were from previous conflicts, conflicts previous to Afghanistan and Iraq, were also eligible to get their toxic exposure illnesses addressed and covered by this legislation. In fact, this legislation covers veterans who were involved in the global war on terror around the world. It was not just confined to those veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before the PACT Act, veterans were likely to need to prove exposure to specific chemicals in order to receive healthcare and benefits. This is nearly impossible when talking about burn pits because of the myriad of materials that were burned in them. Over 6 million veterans and their survivors have completed a toxic exposure screening to ensure they are eligible for care and benefits now and in the future. VA also announced recently that over 1 million veterans had been granted their disability benefits, which is tremendous news, less than 2 years since this bill became law. I would be remiss if I did not mention the veterans service organizations who all came together to support this bill and willed it into law. They showed Congress and President Biden just how important it was that we took care of veterans and their survivors. Democrats and President Biden have proven time and time again that we do not just say thank you for your service. Our actions show just how grateful we are for that service and that we were willing to pay for all the costs of war. So I want to thank Assistant Leader Neguse and all of my colleagues who have joined me on the floor today for this Special Order hour on the Honoring our PACT Act. I am proud to have authored this important legislation that has helped thousands of veterans. I am grateful to Speaker Emerita Pelosi who understood that we needed to deliver for veterans in the 117th Congress and who was a key player in getting this legislation over the finish line. I want to thank President Biden for his continued support of the veteran community. I don't know of a President who has any greater love for veterans than President Biden. It is who he is. So it is with great sincerity and great emotion that I thank him for his decades of service to our veterans. As I said much earlier, he decided that all eligible veterans would be immediately able to apply for benefits instead of the original phased-in approach. He knew how critical this would be for countless veterans and their families. We put partisanship aside and came together to help veterans and their families. More than 1 million veterans and survivors have already received benefits, and thousands more veterans have signed up for VA healthcare. However, as I said earlier, there are some 300,000 veterans who have submitted an intent to file at some point last year who have 365 days to actually submit their claim. For most of these veterans, this 365- day window is this month or early August. In order to receive backdated benefits back to 2022, these veterans need to submit their claims as soon as possible. However, we are not going to stop here. While we celebrate the Honor the PACT Act and the more than 1 million veterans who have benefited from it, we know there is more work to do. As ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am working to end veteran homelessness and to make the VA an even more welcome place for women and LGBTQ+ veterans and stop attempts at more privatization of VA healthcare. We made a solemn promise to our servicemembers that if they serve our country, then we will take care of them. This means every veteran. We also ensure and will ensure they get the best possible care at VA facilities. We will honor our pact with them, and we will honor the promise that we made to them with my legislation, but I will not stop working to improve the lives and livelihoods of veterans around the country. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse), who is the assistant leader, to have the last word for tonight's Special Order hour.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. TAKANO. It is an honor to host this Special Order hour in collaboration with the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Equality Caucus. As Congress' first out person of color, it is an honor to lead this time on the floor. As we near the end of Pride Month, it is important to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community's contributions to our country, our fight for equal rights, and the work that still has to be done. I am proud to be joined by several of my colleagues in this House, and I appreciate their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. Last year, I was joined by Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the co-chairs of the Congressional Equality Caucus, and the LGBTQ+ activists to reintroduce the Equality Act. We stood together in solidarity and on the shoulders of many pioneers of the LGBTQ+ movement to demand equal protections for LGBTQ+ people. Former Congressman David Cicilline entrusted me with this landmark piece of legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, and I take that responsibility very seriously. The Equality Act was passed twice under the leadership of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and today it has the support of every House Democrat. The story of LGBTQ+ equality is not complete without the passage of this legislation. From the Stonewall riots in 1969 to protest the over- policing and criminalization of the LGBTQ community, to the lives lost to the AIDS crisis, to the heroes of this movement like Marsha P. Johnson and Harvey Milk, our community has endured adversity, prejudice, and bigotry. Unfortunately, the ugliness of hatred persists. Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is still active, and violence against more vulnerable members of our community is increasing. The Equality Act would send a message to all LGBTQ+ Americans that their government wants to ensure their dignified existence while honoring those who came before us. In a political moment where the LGBTQ+ community is used to stoke fear and distrust, the Equality Act stands as a way to unite us under principles that this country was founded: liberty and justice for all. I am proud to come to the floor to during Pride Month to highlight this legislation and to send a message to not only the LGBTQ+ people who are living as their authentic selves and who have enjoyed the celebrations and festivities that this month has to offer but, also, those who, for whatever reason, cannot live or love in a way that is true to themselves out of fear of retaliation. To those individuals, I want to say: you are not alone, and you have allies in places you may not expect. You have allies in the nine out Members of the House of Representatives, and you have allies in all of the vice chairs and members of the Congressional Equality Caucus. We cannot wait for the day when LGBTQ+ people don't have to make the impossible choice of choosing safety over living authentically. While I cannot remedy every situation or make every American understand the fear many LGBTQ+ people live in, I can ensure the Federal Government does not stand in their way. That is why we need the Equality Act, for dignity for a group that has historically been suppressed and continues to be the target of attacks. We will not stop until this goal is achieved. We will not go back. We will keep fighting. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia), a deputy whip for the Progressive Caucus and Equality Caucus member, as well.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib), the vice chair for member services for the Progressive Caucus and also an Equality Caucus member.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Vermont (Ms. Balint), the Equality Caucus co-chair and Progressive Caucus vice chair for new members.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson) for his kind and warm and righteous words. Madam Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer), my friend and a member of the Equality Caucus, a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ equality.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Vermont, and I thank her for her most powerful and righteous voice. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson), my good friend, a member of the Equality Caucus and a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, and a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer) for his commitment and the spirit which he brings to fighting for justice for LGBTQ people. Happy Pride to the gentleman. Madam Speaker, I wish to turn my attention toward the world and the international stage. LGBTQ+ issues continue to be the topic of public debate globally. In every corner of the world, there has been movement, both good and bad. We have seen the struggle in many nations in the fight for equality and dignity. On a very positive note, we see in the nation of Greece the legalization of same-sex marriage, making Greece the first Christian Orthodox country to pass such a measure. Taiwan is making historic strides toward equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. In 2019, on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Then, this past year, legislators from Taiwan extended the same-sex marriage act to grant adoption rights to LGBTQ+ couples. Now both individuals who are part of a same-sex couple with children are able to be acknowledged as legal guardians and can experience the parental rights enjoyed by all other couples. This past October, Taiwan celebrated Pride with over 175,000 onlookers from all over the world gathering in Taipei to join the march. This year's theme was ``stand with diversity,'' which sought to recognize the diversity of every person and respect different gender identities. In January, Taiwan elected its first openly gay legislator, but the most promising sign of LGBTQ+ equality came earlier this month from Thailand when legislators approved a marriage equality bill, a move that puts the country on a clear path to becoming the first nation in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex couples. All of this is happening in the shadow of a more and more repressive People's Republic of China. The state authorities have continually targeted LGBTQ+ individuals and cracked down on pro-equality organizers. These groups lack legal support and are at the whims of an authoritarian regime that seeks to diminish and eliminate LGBTQ+ people. No person should live in fear because of their gender identity or who they love, and it is imperative that we protect the rights for LGBTQ+ people globally and hold governments with this anti-equality agenda accountable. I commend Taiwan for their championing of equality for their LGBTQ+ citizens. It sets the example for other countries in Asia and across the world that have yet to support freedom and equality for our community. Madam Speaker, I will make a side note here that while I share my Republican colleagues' concern about the authoritarianism of Xi Jinping and the CCP, I have yet to see my Republican colleagues rise in indignation about the way in which the regime of China treats its LGBTQ+ citizens. Recent events in Uganda have cast a harsh light on the global struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, and it is our moral duty to speak out against the draconian laws that criminalize same-sex relationships in that country. More than a year ago, Uganda enacted one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws, criminalizing same-sex conduct with punishments that include life imprisonment and even the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality, whatever that might mean. Sadly, the law was recently upheld by the nation's highest court. This law is not just a legal measure; it is an instrument of hate and repression, designed to persecute and dehumanize a segment of society simply for being who they are. As someone who has experienced both the triumphs and challenges of being openly gay in public life, I can tell you that laws like these do more than legislate against behavior. They legitimize prejudice, foster environments of fear, and justify violence. They rip apart families, drive people into hiding, and erode the fundamental principles of equality and human rights. We simply cannot and must not look away. Silence in the face of such opposition is complicity. We must use our voices, our platforms, and our influence to condemn these injustices and support those who are fighting for their right to love and live openly and freely in Uganda and around the world. That is why I introduced a resolution condemning this recent regression of LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda. I look forward to my colleagues' support on this measure and to send a message to the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda that they are seen, that they are heard, and that they are not alone. Madam Speaker, I also extend my comments to praise the Biden administration, which has sent a clear message to LGBTQ+ Americans that they deserve to live safely and with dignity. Buried in the 2022 Dobbs decision that stripped women of their reproductive rights was an ominous and dangerous warning from the Justices that marriage equality may be next. Congress and the President were quick to act to protect equality by passing and signing the Respect for Marriage Act. Just imagine if we had a Commander in Chief who did not prioritize this sacred right. We know that 169 of my House Republican colleagues voted against it, and their agenda has not changed, but thanks to President Biden, marriage for everyone is safe from an extremist conservative court that has repeatedly shown that decades of old precedents can be overturned with the stroke of a pen in pursuit of their ideological aims. House Democrats, Progressives, and President Biden will always protect the right for anyone to marry who they love. The President has also leveraged executive agencies to ensure that LGBTQ+ people are safe and healthy. President Biden has directed the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice to ensure that communities have the tools to curb violence against LGBTQ+ people. The President's goal of ending gun violence is something that will help all Americans, including to ensure the safety of LGBTQ+ people as they continue to be targeted based on who they love, what businesses they go to, or how they present. We all remember the tragedies and lives lost from bigotry and fueled by gun violence at Club Q in Colorado and Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Through Congress passing the Safer Communities Act and President Biden's establishment of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Democrats are ensuring that our community is safe to live our lives authentically and with dignity. A part of living a dignified life is one where you don't have to worry about a doctor turning you away based on your identity. The Biden administration advanced civil rights protections for patients by barring health providers and insurers receiving Federal funding from discriminating against those seeking care on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Reversing this Trump-era license to discriminate comes as LGBTQ+ people face unprecedented attacks on their right to healthcare. We have seen over 20 States across the country attempt to get in the middle of healthcare decisions concerning LGBTQ+ care, causing patients to move to States that do not have these hateful regulations or forego care altogether. This action from President Biden sends a clear message: No one should be denied care or coverage of care due to who they are or who they love. Even this week, the President continues to reconcile the harm caused to LGBTQ+ people in the military. He announced pardons for thousands of former servicemembers convicted of a crime under military law based on their sexual orientation. The effects of these convictions have blocked those who served our country their benefits that they have rightfully earned. This is a meaningful step forward for us coming to terms with the institutionalized discrimination, targeting, and repression of LGBTQ+ people in the uniformed services. This is a glimmer of hope in a political era when some of my Republican colleagues and many State governments across the country have put some of the most vulnerable among us in the LGBTQ+ community in their crosshairs. Attacks on trans youth, particularly those who want to participate in sports, are the new bogeyman of the far right. No student, athlete, or young person should be the target of attacks from Members of Congress because they are living as their authentic self. President Biden has responded to these attacks by strengthening Title IX protections. This update to Title IX stipulates protections from sex-based discrimination, which includes gender identity for the very first time. All of these actions recognize the dignity of LGBTQ+ people and the community, a group that has experienced relentless attacks from my Republican colleagues in Congress. We did not ask to be targets of the far right. We did not ask for our personal lives to be the topic of national debate. What we do ask for is respect and the privilege to live as we are without fear, something that non-LGBTQ people have never had to consider. I am proud to come to the floor today to highlight the things this administration has done, but our fight is not over until no one is targeted or retaliated against for being who they are. That is why the Equality Act needs to be taken up, passed, and signed by President Biden to take an even larger step into the future of true equality for everyone regardless of the ZIP Code in which they live. Madam Speaker, in the summer of 1974, I was glued to the television set in my grandfather's living room. My grandfather at the time lived across the street from where I lived. He was an immigrant grandfather. As we say in the Japanese language, his generation is known as the ``issei'' or ``first generation.'' I was watching on the public television station Representative Barbara Jordan give her remarks during the House Judiciary Committee's hearing on the Nixon impeachment. I believe I was 13 years old at the time. Her eloquent and impassioned speech on the solemn nature of impeachment and the role of Congress in those proceedings made a deep impact on me as it did for many others. She, in fact, became a national figure because of her role in giving her opening speech. She said in her very memorable speech that her ``faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total.'' Her conviction was present to all, and it made an indelible mark on me. It inspired me to pursue public service and it inspired me to study the art of wordsmithing and rhetoric with the hopes of one day having the same command of language that she did. That journey led me to pursue a career in education. I returned home to Riverside, California, and began teaching in the nearby community of Rialto Unified School District in 1988. Ask any teacher and they will say it is their students, the young, curious minds that inspire them to strive for greatness in and out of the classroom. This is the same in my story when my students approached me to start the very first gay- straight alliance at that school. Their bravery and clarity of purpose inspired me to run for Congress for the third time in 2012. I had run for the first time in 1992 and again in 1994. In fact, in 1994, I had been outed by my opponent. When my students came to me in 2009, several months after the passage of Proposition 8--I might say that Proposition 8 was the statewide initiative that overturned the California Supreme Court decision that granted same-sex couples the right to marry. The people of California did this in the 2008 election at the same time that they gave President Barack Obama nearly a 20-point margin of victory. A much narrower victory was given to Proposition 8, which overturned marriage equality in California. My students were in a slingshot moment. They surprised me. They came to me and said, Mr. Takano, many kids at our school are upset about the injustice of Proposition 8 and they are mad. They want to start a gay- straight alliance. What was amazing to me was that over 100 kids turned up in my classroom for that first organizing meeting. It began to make me think that another run for Congress was something that I should start thinking about, that my experience in 1992 and 1994--in 1992 almost winning against my opponent and 1994 being a year in which I was attacked for being gay, and homophobic attacks were used. I found that in 2012, I was surrounded by family, loved ones, and supporters as I was elected to Congress, making me the first out person of color to be elected to the House of Representatives. My story is not all that unique. There are still LGBTQ+ people whose queerness is used against them, whether it is being outed or otherwise forced to stay in the closet for longer. Pride Month and the idea of Pride reminds us that it isn't always the case that an out gay Asian man could come to the floor of the House of Representatives and stand alongside his colleagues to celebrate his identity. It wasn't always the case that bills like the Equality Act could be introduced and nevertheless passed out of committee and out of a Chamber of Congress, let alone twice. We have made so much progress, but there is still so much more to do. There are still members of our community being targeted, harassed, and diminished by those with hatred in their hearts. While the journey to full equality for the LGBTQ+ community is long and winding, I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives with clear eyes, proud of the progress we have seen in the past decade and beyond, along with a faith in the Constitution that is whole, that is complete, and that is total. Madam Speaker, just a few miles from here is the Congressional Cemetery. There is a silent protest happening. There amongst the tombstones of former Representatives, Senators, and former Cabinet members is the tombstone without a name that instead bears the message: ``When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.'' Leonard Matlovich is laid to rest there, a Vietnam veteran who rose to fame in 1975 by becoming the first gay servicemember to publicly reveal his sexuality and challenging the military's longstanding ban on LGBTQ+ people. After meeting with famed gay rights activist Frank Kamaney in D.C., Matlovich hand delivered a letter to his commanding officer, declaring his sexual identity. Despite years of exemplary service and multiple tours of duty in Vietnam, which included a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart that he had earned after nearly being killed by a land mine, he was discharged. Madam Speaker, 13 years later, Leonard passed away from HIV/AIDS after years of advocacy, bravery, and being a voice for LGBTQ+ servicemembers serving during Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Our Nation failed Leonard and the estimated 114,000 servicemembers who were discharged on the basis of their sexual orientation between World War II and 2011. The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell came 13 years ago, but the hurt, shame, and legacy of this rule lives on in the form of missed benefits and harassment. As ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have heard stories from former servicemembers who either ended their service early or were discharged due to who they loved. To date, there has been no congressional-led effort to investigate the historic and ongoing impacts of discriminatory military policies on LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans. That is why I introduced legislation to establish a commission to collect facts and testimonies while also providing recommendations to Congress, the VA, and the uniformed services on how to move forward from these harmful policies. There are currently 250,000 Active-Duty LGBTQ+ servicemembers and over 1.5 million LGBTQ+ veterans receiving healthcare from the VA, but there continues to be a pervasive lack of data collection on LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veteran populations and an absence of education on the LGBTQ+ community who serve in uniform. I stand ready to pass this legislation so that even more veterans can experience the world-class care that all veterans are entitled to through the VA. I say in closing that Pride Month is a time for celebration, but it is also a time for action. I thank all the speakers who joined in this Special Order hour to pay tribute to the LGBTQ+ community and to enunciate the work that is left to do. Our speakers today have made clear the progress that we have made but also the work that we still need to do in order to achieve full equality. This month and every month, the congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus stands in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people throughout the country and around the world. We will never stop fighting for your rights. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen for their deep and abiding allyship to the LGBTQ+ community. They did so early in their careers, at a time when we were without many allies who would stand with us. Their courage is to be commended. Ted Danson is known to many through his leading roles on hit TV shows and movies, like ``Cheers'' and ``The Good Place.'' He has used his platform as a bully pulpit, fervently championing marriage equality and vocally opposing discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. He has used his star power for good, raising money for LGBTQ+ advocacy groups that fight for a more just and equal society. By bringing the power of his celebrity to bear, Danson exemplifies the profound impact public figures can have in shaping a more inclusive and accepting society. Mary Steenburgen has built a career on playing warm and wise characters--winning an Oscar along the way--but also one deeply entwined with advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. From ``Philadelphia'' to ``Happiest Season,'' she has found ways to use her public persona to advance the cause of LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. Rarely has any one person been able to combine their artistry and advocacy into one, complete body of work. She is a wonder. Together, Ted and Mary form a formidable team whose combined efforts have significantly bolstered the LGBTQ+ movement. Their enduring commitment to championing LGBTQ+ rights highlights the indispensable role of influential allies in the ongoing struggle for equality and underscores the transformative power of advocacy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing these two remarkable artists and advocates, who are true allies to LGBTQ+ people everywhere.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from Florida for yielding time. Here we go again. Another year, another Military Construction- Veterans Affairs appropriations bill full of partisan riders. When someone takes the oath and joins the military, they are making a selfless commitment to protect our country. As Members of Congress, we must be ready to pay for all costs of war and to help every veteran, regardless of their gender, faith, race, or sexual orientation. That is why I am disturbed that my Republican colleagues have included many of the same partisan riders in this year's bill that were in this bill last year. These radical riders aim to restrict access to abortion and attack LGBTQ+ rights, attacks that are occurring during Pride Month no less. There is, once again, an amendment to this bill that will make it easier for the most vulnerable veterans to access guns and more difficult for VA to help them. The inclusion of this rider spreads the lie that if a veteran seeks mental health care at the VA, then their guns will be taken away. This could not be further from the truth. VA will not take your guns if you come to VA for mental health care. We want to encourage veterans to get the mental health care they have earned and often very much need. This fear-mongering of VA overreach could lead to more veterans not seeking lifesaving assistance. Veterans have a higher rate of suicide than the general population, and they are more likely to use a gun. Knowing this, how could we, in good conscience, vote for this bill with the risks it poses to our veterans? There is another harmful amendment that would lead to greater privatization of veterans' healthcare. Specifically, it would require the VA to apply new access standards for non-VA care. As written, this amendment would cost VA billions of dollars per year to implement and result in tens of thousands of veterans being sent to private providers for lower quality, higher cost care than they would otherwise receive at VA. This is a significant policy change that has not been considered by the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Republicans are attaching it to this appropriations bill because they know it would never pass as a standalone bill. The appropriations process should not be used to legislate such a sweeping change. This is deeply concerning to me and should give every Member voting in this Chamber great pause. Poison pill riders have turned what should be a nonpartisan issue of helping our veterans into a political game. Stop the political games, and let's get serious about helping every veteran. Until then, I cannot support this bill in good faith. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``no'' and opposing this legislation.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Michael R. McCormick, the remarkable superintendent of the Val Verde Unified School District, as he embarks on a well-deserved journey into retirement. With over 27 years of dedicated service to the field of education, Michael McCormick's career has been defined by an unwavering commitment to fostering educational excellence and nurturing innovation. Before assuming the role of superintendent, Mr. McCormick served as the assistant superintendent for education services at Val Verde. Under his stewardship, the district earned numerous awards and accolades owing to his thoughtful and diligent focus that put students first. From championing STEM education to striving to close the racial education gap for his students, Val Verde has thrived under his guidance. Superintendent Michael McCormick's dedication to education has left an enduring legacy of inspiration and empowerment. I congratulate Mr. McCormick on his retirement. We thank him for his tireless commitment to excellence in education.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I pay tribute today to an outstanding public servant, Justin Maturo, who is ending his nearly 6-year tenure as my legislative director. He joined my team in 2018, and I quickly came to trust Justin's analytic mind to sort through the myriad of bills going to the floor each day as well as his political judgment and prudence. He has helped me secure important legislative wins as that was part of his job, but his service was always connected to the success of our Nation, not just to the success of his boss. While my heart is heavy upon the loss of my highly valued lieutenant, our country is the richer as Justin assumes a role as special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs. I wish him well in his new position and thank him for the service he has rendered to me, my constituents, and our Nation. In turn, all I ask him to do is continue to do great things for us all.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the decades of dedicated service that the Honorable Mark E. Johnson has given not only to his country, but to his community. Johnson spent 28 years of his life in the United States Army, rising through the ranks due to his impeccable service and endless perseverance. In this period, Johnson received an astonishing 30 awards and decorations, including the Combat Action Badge and Bronze Star. After retiring at the rank of Colonel, Johnson embarked upon a new challenge, bringing his love of public service to the legal profession. Johnson worked in the private sector and as a Deputy Public Defender for the Riverside County Public Defender's Office to ensure everyone had access to a vigorous defense. He went on to serve as a judge for the Riverside County Superior Court, ruling thoughtfully in over 200 jury trials and presiding over many of the most significant cases in our community. Above all, Johnson worked at every point in his storied career to serve other veterans. Johnson labored endlessly to ensure no one who sacrificed for our nation would fall through the cracks. He developed the Riverside County Veterans Treatment Court to help address the service-related health issues too many of our veterans face. The Honorable Mark E. Johnson has done more for our veterans, our communities, and our Nation than can ever be repaid. I stand today to ensure his work is never forgotten.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 1767, as amended, a bill that will help some veterans have their earned GI Bill benefits restored in cases of fraud. The language before us is a narrower fix than our committee considered last summer, so while I will be supporting this bill, I want to send a message to some student veterans who, unfortunately, won't be helped by this legislation today. We hear them. We will not stop working on a comprehensive fix for all student veterans impacted by fraudulent actors in higher education. I thank Representative Ramirez for her tireless efforts on behalf of student veterans. From her first days in Congress, she has put student veterans first, and it is only right that she can lead the House in restoring benefits for our student veterans. I thank Chairman Bost for working with us on this language to get it to a place where he can support it. I look forward to working with him and his staff on improving this bill in the Senate to ensure that no student veterans are left out. It is, frankly, quite disappointing and shocking that student veterans lack the same access to relief that student loan borrowers have generally. At a minimum, our veterans deserve the same protections that traditional student loan borrowers can receive, especially when an educational institution closes, is suspended, or has terminated a program due to a determination of fraud. This bill does not get us all the way there, but I refuse to let perfect be the enemy of the good. This bill will help student veterans. Madam Speaker, for that reason, I urge support, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Ramirez), who is my very good friend and a coauthor of this important piece of legislation. She also serves on the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee and the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), the coauthor of this legislation who serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Oversight and Accountability Committee.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4016, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, 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, I rise to express my support for H.R. 5914, as amended, the Veterans Education Transparency and Training Act, or VETT Act. This bill makes changes to student veteran rules and regulations, intending to make it easier for veterans to participate in commercial driver certification programs. The bill also makes improvements to the shopping sheet that is offered to student veterans when they are applying to institutions of higher learning. While I support the legislation, I do wish to raise a concern, which is that this legislation chooses one industry, commercial truck driving, over others for approval streamlining. I understand that this industry is in need of workers. However, truck driving is not the ideal career choice for all, and putting one industry ahead of others doesn't necessarily benefit veterans. Should this bill become law, we should ensure we do strong oversight of enrollments, quality of education, and earnings. As I mentioned, the legislation also improves student shopping sheets for enrollments at colleges and universities. This is a welcome improvement that ensures we won't waste time on paperwork that doesn't benefit students, student veterans in particular. I thank Representative Van Orden for his work on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 5914, as amended, and urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Professor Barry Barish of University of California, Riverside, for receiving the National Medal of Science from President Biden in honor of his great achievements and invaluable contributions to the field of particle physics. The citation for his award reads ``For exemplary service to science, including groundbreaking research on sub-atomic particles. His leadership of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory led to the first detection of gravitational waves from merging black holes, confirming a key part of Einstein's Theory of Relativity. He has broadened our understanding of the universe and our Nation's sense of wonder and discovery.'' In addition, Professor Barish was awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics in recognition of his leadership in the discovery of gravitational waves--first predicted by Einstein a century earlier. Professor Barish is currently faculty at University of California, Riverside, in the Department of Physics and Astronomy where he was instrumental in recruiting and developing a new group of faculty focused on the broad field of experimental cosmology. These young faculty are conducting cutting edge research exploring the universe using gravitational waves, searching for dark matter, using the smallest known particles to probe the origin of matter in the universe, and studying the earliest light leftover from the big bang to understand how the universe formed. This group now plays leading roles in international experiments exploring this groundbreaking science and is developing novel instruments that will lead the way for future scientific endeavors for years to come. This research group is also training the next generation of scientists and engineers. The skills that students learn will prepare them to be future leaders in research and industry alike, becoming experts in emerging technologies like semiconductors and quantum sensors, and they will be prepared to grow these vital industries. I commend Professor Barish for his remarkable achievements in science and teaching and his work training the next generation of scientists at University of California, Riverside. May their work continue to illuminate the mysteries of the universe and inspire us all to reach for the stars.