Mark Takano

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria), my good friend, author of H.R. 5738, and the chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5738) to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

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. 5738, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7335) to improve coordination between the Veterans Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration with respect to claims for compensation arising from military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.

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. 7335.

Mr. TAKANO

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 S. 2102.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2102) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mammography screening for veterans who served in locations associated with toxic exposure.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2102, the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environments Act, or SERVICE Act, introduced by Senator Boozman. I applaud Dr. Miller-Meeks and Chairwoman Brownley for their initiative on this urgent issue and for introducing the House companion. The purpose of this bill is to ensure that any veteran who was deployed in support of a contingency operation in specified locations during defined periods is eligible for a mammography screening by a VA healthcare provider. The specified locations are theaters of operations where burn pits are currently--or were previously--being used. This bill also requires inclusion of other locations and time periods as determined by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. Additionally, the SERVICE Act requires a report that compares breast cancer rates for veterans deployed to the specified locations, comparing data to other members of the Armed Forces who were not deployed during that period, and to the civilian population. Many of us here today were lucky enough to have had the honor of meeting Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas; a fierce advocate, loving wife and mother, and an exemplary Marine Corps veteran, who served near a burn pit in Fallujah. Kate passed away last month after battling stage IV breast cancer. She gave her last days to her fellow veterans, fighting for the passage of comprehensive toxic exposure legislation that would provide potentially lifesaving care crucial for similarly exposed veterans. While I support this important and timely legislation, I also stress the urgency of passing the Honoring our PACT Act. It is time for our country to make good on its promise to toxic-exposed veterans. It is up to us, Members of Congress, to fight for our Nation's veterans as they have fought for us. Our Nation's veterans do not have time to wait. I support S. 2102, and I ask my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in passing this important piece of legislation, the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2533) to improve mammography services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S. 2533. In the last vote, the gentleman from Montana went out of my line of sight, and I thought we were going to pass this on suspension. I plead with him, let MAMMO go, let MAMMO pass on voice. By allowing us to pass it on voice, everybody says ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2533, Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act, or MAMMO Act, introduced by Senator Tester. This bill vastly improves the Department of Veterans Affairs' mammography services by updating policies and directives to ensure VA is not only following best practices, but also using the most advanced medical, diagnostic equipment and testing to aid in early detection and prevention of breast cancer. Mr. Speaker, timeliness matters. By ensuring VA is using the best practices and most up-to-date technologies, we will help decrease the risk that women veterans--a group that is nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer than their civilian counterparts--are misdiagnosed, or undiagnosed, for breast cancer. Access to reliable mammograms at VA facilities is imperative in order to detect tumors years prior to physical touch detection. A veteran that receives an early diagnosis will have stronger treatment options and an increased likelihood of survival. It is important to note that women are not the only veterans susceptible to breast cancer, men are increasingly at risk, too. This bill addresses the needs of male veterans who may require prompt breast cancer screening services. In addition, this legislation calls on VA to collaborate with other Federal partners, such as the Department of Defense and the National Cancer Institute to enhance research and care for women veterans suffering from breast cancer. The MAMMO Act has broad bipartisan support, and I thank Chairwoman Brownley for her steadfast leadership on this issue and for introducing the House companion of this legislation with Dr. Miller-Meeks. Additionally, numerous veteran service organizations, such as Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, and The American Legion have voiced robust support for this legislation. We cannot wait any longer to pass this critical piece of legislation. The MAMMO Act is essential for VA to provide high-quality, lifesaving care that veterans have not only earned but deserve. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this important piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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 S. 2533.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2724) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for peer support specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual trauma, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO

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. 6064.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood), the brilliant gentlewoman, my good friend, and author of H.R. 6052. She serves on the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health.

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. 6052.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6052) to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to require the employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive training developed by the Inspector General of the Department on reporting wrongdoing to, responding to requests from, and cooperating with the Office of Inspector General, and for other purposes.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 6052, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act, 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 urge all my colleagues to join me in passing this important legislation. I remind my colleagues that it was sent to us by the Senate by unanimous consent, and we can express that same sense of unanimity by allowing this bill to pass on suspension by voice vote. The Senate has indicated unanimity. As my colleagues well know, to even get to the floor requires a 60-vote super majority. Mr. Speaker, I would say to my friend from Montana, the Big Sky State, have a big heart as well as be from the Big Sky State. To my colleague, the ranking member, I take to heart your consternation over a $6 million non-offsetted cost, but I will remind you of a $2 trillion tax cut which was not offset. So we will wring our hands over $6 million for our veterans but yet, look the other way when $2.9 trillion is blithely moved through this Chamber with nary a hearing. I plead to a big heart in this institution that we may get through these votes quickly. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support S. 4089, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), my good friend who serves as a subcommittee chair on the Ways and Means Committee and is a member of the Oversight and Reform Committee.