Mark Takano

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8888, as amended, the Food Security for All Veterans Act. This bill establishes an office dedicated to ending veteran hunger at the VA that will collaborate with internal and external groups to develop and implement policies and procedures to identify and treat veterans at risk of or experiencing hunger. Food insecurity can create or exacerbate other health maladies and is one of many contributing factors that has led to increased suicide rates, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Addressing veteran hunger is critical to this committee's suicide prevention efforts. Madam Speaker, I thank our newest Member from Alaska, Congresswoman Peltola, for taking up this important issue and prioritizing veterans. The VA has made tremendous strides in its work to end veteran hunger. The VA leads an interagency working group and regularly collaborates with its Federal counterparts on this issue. The VA also instituted a clinical reminder that screens every veteran who receives their care at VA for food insecurity and connects those in need with resources. However, until recently, these tasks were carried out by VA employees as ancillary duties. There was no staff dedicated solely to addressing veteran hunger. The VA has started the process of building a team that works exclusively on this issue, and Congresswoman Peltola's bill gives the VA the infrastructure and resources to ensure those efforts continue for years to come. Before the pandemic and still now, Black, Latino, Native American, and Alaska Native veteran families experienced disproportionately high rates of hunger. This bill requires the VA to coordinate with the VA Office of Tribal Government Relations and the Department of the Interior to focus on these communities. A critical issue this bill intends to affect is the disparity between the VA and USDA data on veteran hunger. The USDA reports about an 11 percent rate of food insecurity among veterans versus the VA, which reports a roughly 2 percent rate among veterans using VA healthcare. The bill requires VA, in consultation with the USDA, to issue an annual report to Congress on the prevalence of veteran hunger. It also requires the VA to track its progress and success in connecting more veterans with resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Importantly, the Food Security for All Veterans Act mandates the VA collaborates with the Departments of Agriculture and Defense to develop materials for the Transition Assistance Program to help increase access to food resources for families in need as they navigate the military- to-civilian transition. September is Hunger Action Month, and today, the White House hosted the Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health that will catalyze the public and private sectors around a coordinated strategy to accelerate progress and drive transformative change in our country to end hunger. This legislation is endorsed by numerous veterans service organizations and hunger advocacy organizations, including Student Veterans of America, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Food Research & Action Center, Disabled American Veterans, American Federation of Government Employees, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and Blue Star Families. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following letters from MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and the Food Research & Action Center. [MAZON, Sept. 23, 2022] Statement for the Record in Support of H.R. 8888 Submitted by MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger A Jewish Response to Hunger is pleased to share this statement for the record in support of H.R. 8888, the Food Security for All Veterans Act. This bill, which would establish an Office of Food Security at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, represents a helpful step forward in the effort to achieve a more comprehensive and lasting solution to the preventable problem of veteran food insecurity. Inspired by Jewish values and ideals, MAZON takes to heart our collective responsibility to care for the vulnerable in our midst, without judgement or precondition. In the United States, this responsibility to prevent and respond to hunger lies centrally with our federal government. The charitable food sector is in no way equipped to respond to the scope of food insecurity in America--all of the charitable and faith- based organizations in this country combined contribute less than ten percent of all food assistance in this country and have extremely limited capacity to respond to more than emergency needs. The food insecurity crisis in our country is the purview of the federal government and it is impractical, inefficient, and immoral to abdicate this responsibility and attempt to outsource the response to a charitable sector that is already overburdened. For over 37 years, MAZON has been fighting to end hunger among all people of all faiths and backgrounds, and for nearly ten years, we have prioritized addressing the long- overlooked issue of food insecurity among veterans and military families. Jewish text and tradition compel us to honor the dignity of every person, especially those who are struggling. No matter a person's circumstance, no one deserves to be hungry. Those who have bravely served to defend our country especially should never have to be subjected to the cruel and painful experience of hunger. The establishment of the Office of Food Security at the Department of Veterans Affairs that is empowered to coordinate efforts among VA program offices, provide information about and help connect veterans to available nutrition assistance benefits and resources, collaborate with USDA, Department of Defense, and other federal agencies, and develop and provide training for professionals who work with veterans, would be an extremely helpful step forward in the national effort to address the crisis of veteran food insecurity. MAZON has testified before Congress and shared our insights and recommendations about food insecurity among veteran households numerous times over the years. Unfortunately, too little progress has been made during the intervening time. There have been some positive steps, both programmatically and through policy change, that have helped; most notably, the recent adoption of the Hunger Vital Signs screening tool at all VA outpatient facilities (MAZON has long advocated for mandatory food insecurity screenings and SNAP eligibility screening, and application assistance across the VA system; much more still remains to be done on this front to connect food insecure veterans with SNAP) and increases to SNAP benefits through the temporary boost included through COVID- 19-relief legislation and the recent update to the Thrifty Food Plan by USDA. It should be noted that, while the temporary boost to SNAP benefits and other COVID-19 assistance provided by the federal government helped to alleviate some material hardship and prevented food insecurity and poverty rates from dramatically spiking due to the pandemic and associated economic downturn, the American population--including veterans--experienced exacerbated challenges that compounded food insecurity rates and more severe impacts. These challenges include elevated rates of unemployment (particularly within the service sector and disproportionately impacting female employees and people of color), widespread school closures and the loss of subsidized school meals, medical emergencies and the associated financial costs for treatment and lost income from time out of work), and mental health distress. We are particularly concerned about the impacts of racial inequities on veterans and the ongoing tragedy of heightened suicide rates among veterans. While there is growing public awareness and concern about both issues, there remains a need for viable policy proposals to address them. The disproportionate impact of food insecurity on households of veterans of color highlight racial inequities that are perpetuated through public policies and program implementation. Closing the SNAP participation gap for veterans and improving the program to better reach and serve food insecure veterans of color will not only signal a commitment to meaningful efforts to address racial justice-- it will concretely contribute to those efforts to achieve greater racial equity in federal policy. As noted by Dr. Thomas O'Toole during his testimony before the House Veterans Affairs Committee on January 9, 2020, a growing body of research sheds light on the relationship between food insecurity and risk factors for poor mental health and suicide. A new study on ``Association between Food Insecurity, Mental Health, and Intentions to Leave the U.S. Army in a Cross-Sectional Sample of U.S. Soldiers'' by researchers at the USDA Economic Research Service and the U.S. Army Public Health Center offers additional insight about linkages between food insecurity, mental health, and military service. Contributing to the VA's stated top clinical priority to end veteran suicide and implement a comprehensive public health approach to reach all veterans, the VA must step up to provide leadership around a robust effort to address veteran food insecurity by proactive SNAP outreach to veterans both within and outside of the VA system. A recommendation made by Dr. Colleen Heflin during her testimony at the May 27, 2021 House Rules Committee roundtable examination of the hunger crisis among veterans and military families holds great promise to decrease the risk of food insecurity during the transition from military service to civilian life, when many households are more likely at risk of food insecurity. MAZON urges Congress to explore this suggestion for the federal government to provide a targeted transitional benefit to all families leaving military service below a certain rank. Such a benefit would act as a stabilizing mechanism and provide much-needed additional assistance to veterans and their families during a time when they may experience a greater level of financial need. Such a transitional benefit, especially one that utilizes innovative new technologies for benefit delivery and personalized communications, opens up opportunities to proactively assess and respond to the whole-person needs of veterans by building trust and facilitating connections to other available resources and comprehensive services. In addition, MAZON supports the distinct, yet often related, recommendations by Dr. Heflin to better protect veterans with disabilities from food insecurity. MAZON was proud to recently sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Veterans Health Administration to work collaboratively to address veteran food insecurity. While MAZON is excited about this opportunity to provide input, contribute resources, and collaborate on innovative program ideas and solutions, the limited commitments to date by the VA and slow pace of response to a preventable crisis with multiple negative consequences is deeply distressing. Additionally, the sporadic oversight by Congress and the lack of urgency that has been demonstrated in holding federal agencies accountable to a proactive, robust, and measurable solution to ending veteran food insecurity must be rectified. There is great bipartisan concern in Congress about veteran food insecurity, but the commitment to mandate and provide funding for proven solutions has unfortunately not matched the lofty rhetoric. It is time to recenter the VA's goals and priorities in the effort to provide a comprehensive response to veteran food insecurity. The implicit abdication of responsibility by the federal government to the charitable sector is unsustainable and dangerous as it shifts attention away from the need to strengthen and improve access to SNAP and other federal programs that serve as the frontline response to veteran food insecurity. Success should be measured not by how many food pantries open at VA centers, but rather by how many food pantries become unnecessary due to veteran households receiving the support they need and are entitled to through programs like SNAP. MAZON urges Congress to step up its leadership as a vital part of this effort by prioritizing the protection and improvement of SNAP, supporting innovative and effective ways to better connect food insecure veterans with federal nutrition assistance programs (including mandating that VA facilities conduct on-site SNAP eligibility screenings and application assistance in addition to the food insecurity screenings currently conducted), bolstering nutrition assistance support during transition from active duty to veteran status, strengthening the supports and removing barriers for food insecure veterans with disabilities, and centering the experiences and perspectives of veterans with lived experiences with food insecurity. The establishment of the Office of Food Security at the VA as proposed in H.R. 8888 promises to make a substantial contribution to coordinating and improving agency efforts and deepening the impact of the federal response to veteran food insecurity. This progress is long overdue and should represent just the next step forward among additional commitments to come. Veteran food insecurity--indeed, all food insecurity--is a solvable problem, and the solution lies in mustering the political will to prioritize and address it. MAZON welcomes the opportunity to continue to work with Congress, with all relevant federal agencies, and with VSOs and other community partners, to build this political will and do right by those who have bravely served our country. No veteran should ever have to worry about being able to feed themselves or those in their family. We owe them much more than the half-measures and broken promises of our policies and programs to date. Hungry veterans cannot eat another report or hearing transcript. MAZON urges Congress to enact the recommendations included in H.R. 8888 and identify additional concrete steps that Congress and the Administration can take now to end the crisis of veteran food insecurity. We stand ready with suggestions and with resolve to work in partnership.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation and ensure no veteran goes hungry, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 8888, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, again, I ask for my colleagues to join me in passing S. 1198. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time remains.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, before I yield an additional 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan, let me just say that if the minority is so insistent and is fervent in their belief that this interim final rule is illegal, I do not understand why there has been no lawsuit filed to enjoin the rule. This is very peculiar that with such passion and with such fervor they argue that this rule is illegal. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin).

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me just respond, that every day my colleagues are making threats to file a lawsuit to stop the interim final rule. Like the ranking member believes, as do many on his side of the aisle, that the interim final rule is illegal based on the 1992 law. I will remind him that in 1996, Congress authorized the VA Secretary to define the medical benefits package. So I disagree with his interpretation of this interim final rule as being illegal. Let me mention one thing further, that I have not seen any lawsuit yet filed, even though he asserted that he would seek to have this rule stayed. I am assuming that the delay in filing, since the hearing that we had, is because he is still looking for a perfect judge to hear it. In the meantime, they are highjacking this opportunity to once again blind and gag women veterans under the premise that veterans should not be allowed to know the healthcare options and benefits that are available to them. This is not only an insult to veterans but to the veterans service organizations that have endorsed and supported this bill. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin), my good friend who serves on the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.

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

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise to support S. 1198, the bipartisan, bicameral, Solid Start Act. This bill is led by Senator Hassan, and in the House, this legislative effort is led by my Veterans Affairs' Committee colleague, Representative Slotkin. Now, we know that the transition from Active-Duty service to veteran status can bring not only new opportunities, but also substantial adjustment and stress. For some veterans, it can pose serious mental health challenges. In fact, the first year of transitioning out of military service is a very high-risk period for veteran suicide. VA initiated its Solid Start program to address the challenges new veterans may face during this period. VA now contacts veterans at three different periods in that first year to check in, remind veterans of benefits and services for which they are eligible, and connect them to resources. Women veterans, like all veterans, deserve to know about all of the benefits and services they have earned with no exceptions. I have heard today that some Republican Members of this House are suddenly looking to oppose this veteran suicide prevention bill, and all because it has 16 words that simply ensure women veterans are told about the range of benefits and services for which they are eligible; 16 words, when we are talking about 16 veteran suicide deaths a day. We are talking about benefits like the GI bill, and compensation for toxic exposure presumptions, breast cancer screening, treatment for military sexual trauma, and, yes, the freedom to discuss their options around pregnancy. All benefits they have earned through their service because they chose to serve our Nation. Well, I would say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to take your fight against women veterans elsewhere. Criminalizing, infantilizing, and denying women veterans--take your fight elsewhere. There is no bar that prevents VA providers from discussing a single benefit with male veterans, but my colleagues want a double standard for women veterans. This is about two lines in an entire bill meant to help veterans who have recently left Active Duty. All veterans. Republicans won't pass this bill unless we delete women from it. I refuse to do that. Women veterans are veterans. A conversation with a woman veteran about coming to the VA could prevent her death from suicide. It could also prevent needless suffering and possible death from health conditions, including pregnancy. Republicans have gotten so extreme with their fear of women having autonomy over their own bodies and lives that they are willing to play political games with veterans' lives and tank a veteran suicide prevention bill. I would also remind those considering blocking this bill that this very same language has already passed in the House. Back on June 23 of this year, this Chamber passed the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022. It passed under a simple voice vote. The Senate unanimously passed the Solid Start Act after VA's new rule on abortion counseling and services had been announced. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and this legislation would help us better connect veterans with the resources needed to save lives. Sadly, each day, we are losing roughly 16 veterans to suicide. I am not willing to let 16 words about women's freedom to discuss their own benefits contained in this legislation prevent us from saving the lives of 16 veterans who die by suicide each day. I thank Senator Hassan and Representative Slotkin for their work on this important issue, and I am pleased we could take up this bill during Suicide Prevention Month. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1198, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam 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 S. 1198.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1198) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and expand the Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 5918, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5918, as amended, legislation to ensure veterans can recoup the money they paid into the Montgomery GI Bill. Under current law, veterans who do not fully access their Montgomery GI Bill can lose out on the payments they made into the program, in some cases totaling up to $1,200. The Montgomery GI Bill is in the process of being phased out for the more generous Forever GI Bill. Many veterans may not remember the $1,200 they paid into the program in the early days of their service or even be aware that they are entitled to a refund of the unused funds. The process to reclaim that $1,200 can be difficult, and there are times when the veteran can simply lose out on the money because they waited too long. This legislation eliminates that cumbersome process by making it so the veteran is repaid, no questions asked. The bill is fully offset and supported by the veterans service organization community, including by Student Veterans of America. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks) for his work on this legislation and the VSO community for bringing this issue to our committee. I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure no veteran loses out on what is owed to them. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5918, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5918) to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3304, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3304) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide or assist in providing an additional vehicle adapted for operation by disabled individuals to certain eligible persons, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam 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. 3304, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3304, as amended, the AUTO for Veterans Act. I was proud to join Representative Lizzie Fletcher in introducing H.R. 3304, and I thank her for her tireless work with the veteran community, which has led to this bill being considered on the floor today. Currently, disabled veterans are only allowed a single grant to modify a vehicle to provide them mobility. This means there are cars that are 25, 30, or even 40 years old on the road because the veteran has no other option. When you consider that the average life of an automobile is less than 12 years, we are asking veterans to incur additional costs and risks by driving excessively old cars for decades. The AUTO for Veterans Act finally expands eligibility for disabled veterans to obtain vehicles modified for their disabilities more than once in their lifetime. Upon passage into law, H.R. 3304 would immediately allow veterans who have waited decades to acquire a new vehicle and, after giving those veterans priority, would eventually expand the benefit to cover those veterans who updated their vehicle 10 years ago. This legislation also expands the definition of ``medical services'' to include certain vehicle modifications so that veterans can attend medical appointments. This legislation has long been a priority for veterans and is supported by DAV, VFW, PVA, and countless other veterans organizations. This legislation is fully paid for and delivers for disabled veterans who gave us so much. I thank the ranking member for his support of this legislation. I know we have both wanted to fix this longstanding problem. Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 7589, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as we all know, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. I hope everyone has the new crisis hotline number, 988, saved on their phones. If you or a veteran you care about is in crisis, please dial 988, and press 1 to reach trained responders at the Veterans Crisis Line. Again, let me repeat the number. Dial 988 and press 1 to reach trained responders at the Veterans Crisis Line. One component of a public health approach to veteran suicide prevention is ensuring that all of our Nation's heroes have access to timely, high-quality, effective mental health care. Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to bring up my bill, H.R. 7589, as amended, the Reduce and Eliminate Mental Health Outpatient Veteran Copays or REMOVE Copays Act. We reported this bill favorably out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee last week on a bipartisan voice vote. I thank Ranking Member Bost for his support of this bill. H.R. 7589 turns a legislative proposal from the Department of Veterans Affairs into a law that will make every enrolled veteran's first three outpatient mental health appointment at VA free every year. We know that what may seem like low copays can, in fact, be significant financial barriers for many veterans. Our goal is to knock down all barriers for veterans seeking and accessing mental health care at the VA. VA strongly supports this bill, as do veterans service organizations and mental health groups. If we can enact this into law, VA will be the first of hopefully all Federal healthcare programs to eliminate copays for mental health care every year in this way and get people the help they need. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this vital piece of legislation, H.R. 7589, as amended, the REMOVE Copays Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, again, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7589, as amended. I do thank my colleague, the ranking member. It is an example of standing our ground where we must and finding common ground where we can. Lastly, I close by saying, please dial 988 and press 1 to reach trained responders at the Veterans Crisis Line. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7589) to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the imposition or collection of copayments for certain mental health outpatient care visits of veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam 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. 8510, as amended.