Mark Takano

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, there are plenty of instances where training time and readiness training has counted towards the GI Bill. We talk about the basic training that reservists and Guard unit members go through. That has counted toward the GI Bill. And if there is a worry about the Federalization, Federal dollars already pay for the training days that we are seeking for the Guard unit members and the reservists to get credit for. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), my good friend, member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology and Modernization.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 860, I call up the bill (H.R. 1836) to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the time during which members of the Armed Forces serve on active duty for training qualifies for educational assistance under the Post- 9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate a dedicated professional with the Department of Veterans Affairs on the occasion of his retirement. Mr. David Ballenger is an exemplary public servant who has demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism serving our nation's veterans. He has served with the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs for more than 17 years. His career in public service is a testament to the importance of selfless service. For the last 10 years, Mr. Ballenger served as the Director of the Legislative Team in the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs at VA. He has been involved in a remarkable breadth of important matters spanning VA's health benefits, memorial functions, human resources, information technology, and real property. In this capacity, he has been the conduit between Congress and VA, providing technical assistance on multiple pieces of landmark legislation including the VA MISSION Act, the Forever GI Bill, the VA Disability Appeals Modernization Act, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, the Veterans' COMPACT Act, and the Deborah Sampson Act. He also spearheaded the Department's legislative proposal submissions. As Mr. Ballenger embarks on a new chapter in life, it is my hope that he will recall, with a deep sense of pride and accomplishment, the outstanding contributions he has made to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Congress, and veterans of the United States. May his life be filled with health and happiness.

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 H.R. 5545, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5545) to extend certain expiring provisions of law relating to benefits provided under Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs during COVID-19 pandemic, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5545, as amended, the Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions Act, or the REMOTE Act. This bill is an urgent extension of flexibilities for student veterans using their educational assistance benefits as the COVID-19 pandemic wears on. H.R. 5545, as amended, extends the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 through the spring 2022 term. When my Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law in April 2020, I am not sure many of us would have foreseen that 19 months later the COVID-19 pandemic would still affect everyday life for veterans and their families across the country. And since then, we have extended these flexibilities for student veterans three times as the pandemic remains a public health emergency throughout the country and the world. Still, many college students remain unable to return to campus. H.R. 5545, as amended, would extend remote learning waivers for student veterans through the spring 2022 term and ensure they will continue receiving full housing benefits despite not taking on-campus courses. We have been negotiating this bill with the minority for months and, while this bill is not the exact version that I would prefer, student veterans are simply too important to let these benefits lapse. A majority of students have already enrolled in their spring classes, having signed up as early as this past October or November. They selected their classes with the hope that we, in Congress, would act to extend these flexibilities through the spring term. We cannot wait any longer to pass this critical piece of legislation for our student veterans. New cases of the virus are up. There is a new variant, leading some States to declare a new state of emergency, and it is clear, COVID-19 is not behind us. The emergency persists, and we cannot walk away from our duty to assist student veterans now. Without this legislation, student veterans who planned and started out the school year remotely--reasonably thinking they would be able to stay in status for the entire school year--will have to figure out a plan to get back to taking on-campus classes in order to receive their monthly allowance for housing. This legislation is to address this specific emergency now. This is not setting precedent for any future emergencies, nor is it setting a standard for treating future education terms impacted by COVID-19. Should we have to extend these provisions again next year, we should use the same emergency designations we have used three times in the past. We know these provisions are not for new benefits. They are to maintain existing benefits and existing spending. Additionally, this bill ensures student bodies at U.S. universities remain diverse and allows for the continued recruitment of foreign students. It also simplifies the verification process for tuition reimbursement for certain educational institutions to minimize unneeded paperwork for student veterans. Student veterans should be able to focus on their studies, not on whether they are going to receive their earned VA benefits. And that is why I introduced this bill, with my House Veterans' Affairs Committee colleagues, Representative Trone and Representative Mike Levin, to ease the burden on student veterans during these persistently uncertain times. Now, this legislation is endorsed by numerous VSOs, such as the Student Veterans of America, the American Legion, the VFW, American Council on Education, Tragedy Assistance for Survivors, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and the National Association of Veterans' Program Administrators, and countless others. Finally, the legislation includes an additional provision from Representatives Lamb and Mann. The text of this section of the bill would help the Department address diversity and equity within the workforce. It removes a 1997 law that limits the number of VA counselors who can advise employees on equal employment opportunity issues. VA has roughly doubled in size since 1997, and VA requested for this limit to be removed to allow the Department to hire additional counselors to support the needs of a growing workforce and help ensure that VA is a welcoming place for all employees. I wish to thank Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer for bringing this legislation to the floor; and I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure student veterans are able to access the benefits they have earned and continue their studies during the spring semester. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the work and cooperation of the ranking member, and I appreciate that he stands squarely behind this legislation. What is at stake at the very end of this year is the housing of our Nation's student veterans, numbering in the tens of thousands. We need swift passage of this bill and the companion bill in the Senate. I urge all Members of the House to support this bill, and I urge our Senate colleagues to act on this expeditiously. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5545, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone), my good friend and the author of H.R. 5545, as amended. He is a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and an active member on the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in support of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs contribution to the Build Back Better Act of 2021. The committee has an important responsibility to advance measures that support veterans and honor their service and sacrifice, as well as that of their families, caregivers, and survivors. Last week, we celebrated Veterans Day. The Build Back Better Act is the perfect way to continue to show our gratitude with concrete, meaningful investment for all veterans. By making this critical investment at the VA, we can start rebuilding VA's capacity in terms of brick-and-mortar infrastructure, human capital, and support structures that serve our Nation's veterans. Now, I have a difficult time believing my colleagues across the aisle think that veterans are unworthy of this investment. The fact is, veterans from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Beaufort, South Carolina, and from Columbia, Missouri, to Clarksville, Tennessee, are among the districts that stand to gain directly from these resources. The most important piece of this legislation is the $1.8 billion for medical facility leases that fixes a longstanding backlog of lease authorizations. Take a look at VA's budget book, at the leases that are on that list. You will see it largely benefits Republican districts. Do my Republican colleagues not want VA facilities and clinics in their districts? I don't believe that for one moment. I know that they will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremonies, though, when this bill is passed into law and issue press releases when these facilities are open. Voting against this legislation would not only mean turning our backs on our most sacred promise to our Nation's veterans, but it would be a striking departure for many of my Republican colleagues who have long advocated for these investments. As demand for care and services at VA continue to grow, the lack of purposeful, usable clinic space will hurt veterans, including women veterans, because clinic spaces are not designed for them. A lack of access to healthcare providers will hurt veterans because we simply don't have enough providers in this country. Making investments in the next generation of healthcare providers is just common sense. I will end by saying nearly three-fourths of the American people agree that it is time to update VA's infrastructure. The Build Back Better Act gives us the framework to do just that.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Newman for yielding. It is a great honor to be here today under such somber circumstances. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgender Awareness Week. It is with a heavy heart that I recognize that this has been the deadliest year on record for our transgender sisters, brothers, and siblings. I want to share with you the names of three individuals that we lost in my home State of California. I grieve with the families, loved ones, and communities that lost these young people far too early for no reason other than hate. Rayanna Pardo, age 26, was a beloved daughter and sister living in East Los Angeles who left behind a family and community that loved her deeply. She was lost in March of this year. Natalia Smut, age 24, was a celebrated drag artist from Milpitas, California. She gave captivating performances and had a courageous and creative spirit, and she was described by those who knew her as a jewel in her community. She was lost in April. Poe Black, also known as Oliver Jackson and Legion, was an indigenous, trans-masculine and two-spirit activist and artist. He was a tireless advocate who used his social media platform to support various social justice causes, including by documenting his transition to educate and inspire his followers. He was lost in May. Each of these young people leaves behind a network of family, friends, and community upon which they have made an indelible impression. I join their communities in honoring their light and legacy and share in the grief that they were taken from the people who loved them. It is in remembrance of these three individuals that I say this: Transgender Week of Awareness cannot only be about awareness. It also must be about action. We cannot pretend that the rhetoric heard here in this Chamber and in statehouses across the country does not have a direct impact on the lives of transgender people. This year, we have seen the introduction of over 100 anti-trans bills in State legislatures, whipping up a moral panic around the identities of adults and targeting children. The dehumanizing debates over whether an individual should have control over their own body, whether they should be allowed to compete on the athletic field, whether they even exist, these arguments all connect directly to the types of attacks that killed Rayanna, Natalia, Poe Black, and so many more. It is not enough to only recognize the devastating statistics. We must also make policy decisions that recognize transgender people for who they are. Who are they? They are loved ones, community members, family members, individuals who add depth and richness to our society and are defined by far more than statistics, hatred, or bigotry. So this Transgender Remembrance Day, remember those who were lost by making noise. Raise your voice against the persistent and dangerous misinformation about transgender identity. Raise your voice in celebration of loved ones, friends, family, and community members who are transgender. Raise your voice to support the next generation of transgender and nonbinary young people so that they may recognize the great beauty and joy in their identity rather than living in fear or shame. Now, we cannot bring those who have been lost back to their loved ones, but we can play a role in ensuring that other friends, families, and communities do not have to suffer a loss like Rayanna's, Natalia's and Poe Black's communities did. So I call on my colleagues this year to turn awareness into action because making policy that centers on safety, equity, and prosperity for transgender people should not be an effort that lasts only a week, but it should be all year round and throughout the rest of our lives. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.

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 insert extraneous material on H.R. 5603, 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 to insert extraneous material on H.R. 3730, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan), my good friend and valued member of the Committee on Veteran Affairs, who serves on the Health Subcommittee.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3730, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, H.R. 3730, sponsored by Mr. Sablan and Mrs. Radewagen, which would create an advisory committee on veterans living in outlying areas and freely associated States, including island territories. The advisory committee would have a variety of members, including experts from the covered geographic areas. The Secretary will be able to consult regularly with, and receive the input of, this advisory committee regarding the administration of benefits and VA programs. Once established, the advisory committee will report annually on the needs of the covered veterans and provide much-needed recommendations. This bipartisan legislation is supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Minority Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3730) to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs an Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, 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 to insert extraneous material on H.R. 4626, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 796, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021, sponsored by Senator Tammy Duckworth. The House companion to this bill, H.R. 958, was championed by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood) and unanimously passed the House this past May. The Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021 will codify the maternity care coordination program that the Veterans Health Administration first established in 2012 and updated in a November 2020 policy directive. This will help ensure that veterans across the Nation receive high- quality, culturally competent healthcare throughout their pregnancies and immediately afterward. The majority of veterans' maternity care is delivered by a contracted network of non-VA community providers. However, many veterans have coexisting medical or mental health conditions for which they receive ongoing care from VA providers. This means it is absolutely critical to ensure pregnant veterans' care is coordinated among all healthcare professionals involved in it. Such information sharing is crucial for patient safety and positive health outcomes--for parents and newborns. In addition to codifying VA's maternity care coordination program, S. 796 will require the Department to provide training for community providers on the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum veterans and on behavioral health conditions related to service in the Armed Forces. Today, women veterans are the fastest growing cohort in the veteran population, and more than 40 percent of women veterans using VA healthcare are of reproductive age. Black women serve in higher numbers and represent nearly one-third of women using VA for their healthcare. In the population at large, Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native moms die from pregnancy-related complications at approximately three times the rate of White, Latina, Asian American, and Pacific Islander women, regardless of income or education levels. However, little is known about whether pregnant and postpartum veterans have better, worse, or equal rates of maternal mortality compared to nonveterans. That is why S. 796 also mandates a U.S. Government Accountability Office study on maternal mortality and morbidity among pregnant and postpartum veterans, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes for veterans. Last year, approximately 6,000 veterans using VA became new moms. Moms who have served our Nation exemplify strength and resilience. Supporting moms means ensuring gender equity, and that begins with healthcare equity. I therefore ask my colleagues to join me in supporting final passage of S. 796, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021. Mr. Speaker, 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 insert extraneous material on S. 796.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 147) to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to transitional services for separating members of the Armed Forces and educational assistance under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, 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. 147, as amended.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2433) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take actions necessary to ensure that certain individuals may update the burn pit registry with a registered individual's cause of death, and for other purposes.