Mark Takano

Mr. TAKANO

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

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 1095, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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. 1095.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1095, the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act. This bill codifies an important protection for beneficiaries using the Department of Veterans Affairs Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, or DEA. Through the DEA program, VA helps cover the cost of a beneficiary's school or job training. This bill requires that public institutions of higher learning only charge in-State tuition for those utilizing the DEA program. There are currently over 150,000 beneficiaries utilizing the DEA program. These beneficiaries are the survivors of brave women and men who died serving our country and the dependents of 100 percent service- connected disabled veterans. Currently, this benefit equates to about $11,000 a year for most students. With the increasing costs of higher education, $11,000 does not cover all of a beneficiary's tuition costs at most schools, including public institutions where the student beneficiary would be considered out-of-State. S. 1095 would provide parity for students using the DEA program with the Forever GI Bill program by requiring public institutions to charge in-State tuition for student veterans. This legislation has the strong endorsement of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer for bringing this legislation to the floor, and I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure the survivors and dependents of those who bravely serve our country are not hindered by tuition costs when pursuing their education. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1095) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the disapproval by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of courses of education offered by public institutions of higher learning that do not charge veterans the in-State tuition rate for purposes of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5671) to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, 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. 5671, as amended.

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

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, and before asking all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5671, I truly believe that passing the SAVE LIVES Act and passing this legislation today, H.R. 5671 constitutes one of the best moments that I have had as chairman where all four corners of the Congress came together. Ranking Member Bost, I know walked a very delicate balance to bring his Members together, but I appreciate his persuasive abilities with his side of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage that we do this more, and I have no doubt that we really did save lives. And I have no doubt today that we are going to save lives because of this effort before us. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, 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 recognize the lives of Army Captain Jennifer Moreno and Navy Captain Kathleen Bruyere. I thank my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Levin), for introducing this legislation to pay tribute to these two distinguished servicemembers who went above and beyond in their service to this Nation. When Jennifer Moreno graduated from the University of San Francisco with a nursing degree, she joined the Army. She completed airborne training and served with Special Operations Command. As a cultural support team member, Captain Moreno was tasked with outreach to the Afghan women they encountered. On October 5, 2013, Captain Moreno and a dozen other special operators were struck by 12 bombs in a night raid to disrupt a plot to kill civilians. While attempting to save an injured soldier, she was killed. For her heroic acts and unwavering support of her comrades, Captain Moreno was awarded a Combat Action Badge, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star. Captain Bruyere was a true changemaker. The daughter of an Army servicemember, Captain Bruyere joined the Navy following her graduation from Chestnut Hill College. She climbed her way through the Navy's ranks, becoming the Navy's first female flag secretary. As an advocate for women servicemembers, Captain Bruyere was featured as one of Time magazine's Women of the Year in 1976. Despite her high ranking, Captain Bruyere was limited in her ability to be promoted due to the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. In a potential career-ending move, Bruyere and five servicemembers sued the Department of Defense in 1977. The rules were deemed unconstitutional, paving the way for thousands of women to serve in leadership positions at sea. She retired at the rank of captain in 1994 and passed away on September 3, 2020. Both Captain Moreno and Captain Bruyere exemplify the highest qualities of service and are true American patriots. I was honored to remember them both on Veterans Day. H.R. 3665 has letters of support from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion, and I include them in the Record. Veterans of Foreign Wars, June 22, 2021. Rep. Mike Levin, Washington DC. Dear Rep. Levin: On behalf of the sixty-four thousand members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California, I am writing to endorse your bill, H.R. 3665 to rename the San Diego Medical Center after U.S. Army CPT Jennifer M. Moreno as the ``Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center'' and support the designation of a component within the facility in honor of U.S. Navy CAPT Kathleen M. Bruyere. It is our privilege to help recognize and support the contributions of women in military service, notably CPT Moreno, who we believe embodies the requirements necessary to rename a federal building in her honor. The panel convened in the San Diego consisting of area service members, veterans and community leaders, made the recommendation after review of CPT Moreno's distinguished service to her country, and who was ultimately killed in action during a deployment to Afghanistan in October 2013. In addition, we endorse naming a prominent space within the facility after CAPT Bruyere, a longtime San Diego resident who helped shape the military's policies on sexual discrimination and expanding opportunities for women in the Navy. The VFW is committed to improve VA medical centers services for women veterans through legislative advocacy and fully support your work on behalf of our nation's veterans. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, John G. Lowe, State Commander.

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. 3665.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 894) to identify and refer members of the Armed Forces with a health care occupation who are separating from the Armed Forces for potential employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I, again, ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 1031, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank my neighbor and very good friend, Dr. Raul Ruiz, for holding and hosting this Special Order hour on toxic exposures. Madam Speaker, tonight I rise to talk about the urgent need to finally recognize toxic exposure as a cost of war and pass the Honoring Our PACT Act. Every day I hear from more and more veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances while serving our Nation. Whether it is exposure to burn pits, contaminated water, radiation, or other toxins, the health effects are often severe from chronic multisymptom illnesses, to cancers, birth defects, infertility, and respiratory conditions. This problem isn't new, and neither is the need for congressional intervention. As chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I was proud to lead the effort last Congress to pass the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act and get long-overdue justice for our Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. But that took more than 40 years. We cannot let our post-9/11 veterans suffer the same fate. And, yes, we are in danger of having burn pits become this generation of veterans' Agent Orange. We cannot allow this generation of veterans to go the 40 years that our Vietnam veterans had to wait for their justice. When we send our servicemembers into harm's way, we do so with a promise to care for them and pay for that care. We haven't been keeping up our end of the deal. Hundreds of thousands of veterans have signed up for VA's burn pit registry. However, with 70 percent of burn pit claims denied, it is clear that VA's current claims process isn't working. No veteran should be forced to prove that their government exposed them to toxic substances. The Honoring our PACT Act fixes that and finally makes good on our promise. With our bipartisan legislation, we can deliver VA benefits and care to up to 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits and airborne hazards. We can establish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers, the most comprehensive list out there. Additionally, we can streamline VA's review process for toxic exposure presumptions, so Congress doesn't have to keep intervening. With the exit from Afghanistan still fresh in our minds, we cannot forget that the true cost of war is so much more than the tanks, planes, and weapons used on the battlefield. Veterans living with toxic exposure are still in the heat of battle, and they are paying for the cost of war that our Nation should be paying. That is why we need to pass the Honoring our PACT Act into law. With 60 cosponsors, bipartisan support, endorsements from nine veteran services organizations, and a VA Secretary and President who are committed to addressing this issue, we have the momentum to get this done. With every day that passes, more veterans get sick and, sadly, die waiting for the care and benefits they have earned. We must act now. I want to thank Dr. Ruiz and the Congressional Burn Pits Caucus for partnering with my committee to share the stories of toxic-exposed veterans today and showcase how transformative passing the Honoring our PACT Act will be. With Veterans Day right around the corner, we can honor our veterans' service with action. I urge all Members to consider sponsoring our legislation.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, today, we honor the life of a fearless labor leader, Richard Trumka. With his recent passing, the working people of America lost an outspoken, powerful voice. Mr. Trumka dedicated his life and career to serving American workers. From his early days as a staff attorney for the United Mine Workers of America and throughout his tenure as President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, he was a consistent champion for social and economic justice, fair wages, and safe working conditions--and our nation is better for it. During my time in Congress, I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Trumka on several occasions to discuss the challenges facing American families and union workers, and to explore the ways in which we could lift up all people. He was a fierce advocate for policies that had the power to produce real, meaningful results that would improve countless lives. Now more than ever, as our country and our economy grapple with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will miss Mr. Trumka 's presence in the fight to fully recover from the economic downturn and difficulties we've experienced, but we will never stop the work he started. The way to honor his memory is by empowering workers and the unions that represent them. I offer my sincerest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones of Mr. Trumka during this time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Moreno Valley City Councilwoman, and true public servant, Victoria Baca. As the first Latina elected to the city council, Victoria broke barriers and paved the way for so many others to follow in her footsteps. I knew Victoria during her time on the city council and remember her as someone who was fiercely loyal to her community. Victoria also served on the board of the Moreno Valley Unified School District, where she was a strong advocate for special education services in the Inland Empire and dedicated her time in office to protecting and uplifting students. She genuinely cared about others and worked tirelessly to make a lasting difference. Her legacy with respect to education, diversity, and economic growth in Moreno Valley will always be admired. Victoria's death has left a void in the community and in the lives of the people closest to her. I am honored to have known her and to have witnessed the positive change she pioneered. To the Baca family and all those who knew, loved, and respected her, I offer my deepest condolences.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember Scott Lay, a higher education advocate and beloved member of California's public policymaking community. I came to know Scott when he was a young staffer at the Community College League of California. A product of Orange Coast College himself, Scott exemplified the opportunity that a community college education avails to millions of Americans. He would himself rise to lead the Community College League as its CEO after finishing law school at UC Davis. He loved politics and technology and was a progenitor of highly read newsletters such as The Roundup and The Nooner at the beginning of the online publishing boom. Scott's death is untimely and heartbreaking. He had an infectious enthusiasm. I know he would be proud of President Biden's Build Back Better community college initiative. I know he would want to be here to make it happen. I am very sorry for his loss, and I express my condolences to his family and loved ones.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan amendment, which would prohibit the enforcement of forced arbitration clauses and contracts covered by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA. Forced arbitration has undermined the rights of servicemembers for years by forcing them to waive their ability to seek remedies through the courts. This prohibition on forced arbitration clauses would protect countless men and women wearing the uniform of our Nation from predatory lenders while being deployed. SCRA extends important financial protections to military service personnel who are currently serving on active duty, and are often targeted for exploitation. These protections can range from prohibiting lenders from repossessing cars and foreclosing on homes while servicemembers are actively deployed. I will repeat, while they are actively deployed. This amendment will expand these protections to remove a common tool used in this exploitation. Those who serve in our military are inherently at a disadvantage against aggressive lenders as the nature of their service makes it difficult to seek fair resolve in any claims. While lenders are aware of this unique circumstance, many seek to take full advantage of these servicemembers. And this is a shame. Our servicemembers protect us both at home and abroad, and it is time we safeguard their rights against predatory lenders and others who shamelessly seek to exploit members of our military. So I am thankful to my colleagues for their leadership on this issue, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Golden, Mr. Reschenthaler, and Mr. Brown, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this amendment, and I hope it stays in after conference.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to speak today in support of H.R. 5293, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2021, offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), the chairman of our Technology Modernization Subcommittee and my good friend. This package ensures continued operations of several programs that are vital to addressing the needs of veterans we serve. First, this bill removes the December 31, 2021, expiration date and makes permanent VA's dental insurance program. This benefit allows qualifying veterans, survivors, and dependents the opportunity to purchase discounted dental insurance coverage that includes preventive, diagnostic, endodontic, restorative, surgical, and emergency dental services. Each individual covered by the program pays the entire premium for coverage in addition to the full cost of any copays. Enrollment is voluntary and does not affect eligible individuals' entitlement to existing VHA outpatient dental services and treatment. Second, H.R. 5293 will extend VA's authority to provide travel reimbursement for certain veterans living in highly rural areas to receive care at vet centers. These centers serve as a lifeline for veterans who may not feel comfortable seeking services at traditional VA medical facilities. They offer individual and group therapy, marriage and family counseling, and assist veterans in connecting to other VA benefits. H.R. 5293 extends VA's authority to reimburse mileage, tolls, and other travel expenses veterans from highly rural areas may incur when traveling to vet centers. Finally, H.R. 5293 will extend for 5 years VA's authority to operate the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 or the CHIP IN Act. This program allows VA to accept donations from non-Federal entities of buildings and land that VA will use to address long-term infrastructure needs, including the delivery of healthcare services. Examples of non-Federal entities that can make donations under the pilot include State and local authorities, a donor or donor group, limited liability corporations, or tax-exempt organizations. The CHIP IN Act allows VA to use funds that have already been appropriated for a particular facility's construction project to assist a donor of real property and improvements with financing, designing, or constructing the facility to suit VA's needs. Thus far, VA has accepted two donations: design and construction of a facility on the grounds of the VA Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska; and construction of an inpatient facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This bill will extend VA's authority to accept similar donations in other locations. Once again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5293, which will authorize the continued operation of these important programs. 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 to insert extraneous material on H.R. 5293.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for sharing the very moving story of Stephanie Merlo, for expressing her humanity on the floor today. The Representative exemplifies, to me, the best of my Caucus, the Democratic Caucus, and the values we stand up for, which is to include more people in ``we the people.'' Madam Speaker, this concludes our Special Order hour. I thank my colleagues for their participation and each of the veterans who shared their stories and, in particular, every veteran and servicemember who gave their service to our country in the face of overwhelming prejudice. We recognize today as the 10th anniversary of an important first step toward making the Armed Forces more inclusive and accepting, a commitment that I and all my colleagues here today will continue to carry forward. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, today's Special Order hour marks the 10- year anniversary of the enactment of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. This legislation represented the end of an era, the close of a dark chapter in our military history in which LGBTQ members of the Armed Forces were forced to hide who they were under the threat of investigation and discharge. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer servicemembers of that era paid a heavy cost to serve their country, one that required them to uphold an uncompromising oath of integrity while at the same time publicly denying a fundamental aspect of their lives. It is thanks to their resilience, their strength, and their activism that repeal was ever achieved, and we honor those veterans today. I believe it is important to hear from the veterans themselves from those who served and survived Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It is my pleasure this evening to welcome a number of my colleagues to the floor to read the testimony of five individuals who served under Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It is my distinct privilege to start with the testimony of Lindsay Church, a Navy veteran who served from 2008 to 2012. Lindsay is a third-generation sailor and the sixth in their family to serve in the military. They are a cofounder and executive director of the veteran serving organization Minority Veterans of America and have nearly a decade of experience in veterans advocacy. And this is Lindsay's story: ``In 2008, I joined the Navy where I would serve for 4 years before being medically retired. I served all but 3 months of my time under the military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. I could tell you a lot of stories that range from bullying and reprimand for my nonbinary appearance, failed relationships due to the fact that I had to hide them at every turn, and exploitation by other servicemembers threatening to tell my secret if I didn't continue to date them. Even as I spent months recovering from life-changing injuries as a result of my service, I was made to suffer alone because my relationships were legally prohibited. ``As I have unpacked my service as a veteran, I look back at the intense scars that Don't Ask, Don't Tell inflicted on my life. In conversations with other Don't Ask, Don't Tell survivors, I have come to realize that serving under this policy has left a generation of queer servicemembers with intense trauma and a fracture of our identities. For veterans like myself, we were often faced with a choice upon leaving the military and coming to the veteran community: Be a veteran or be queer because you can't be both here. ``It has taken me nearly a decade since leaving the service to find healing and engage in healthy relationships. I couldn't speak out against this policy when I was in uniform, so it is imperative for me today to remind this body that policies like Don't Ask, Don't Tell cause widespread trauma and harm to generations of servicemembers who fought for our country but were forced to remain voiceless. Moral injury will follow with each of us for the rest of our lives. ``My story of service was tarnished by Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Every day I carried a lie while attempting to live up to the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment. I am deeply proud of the years of my life I gave to serving my country, and that will never change. The scars I carry as a result of that service will also never change. Though they may fade, they will never be forgotten.'' So I would like to extend my deep thanks to Lindsay, both for their service and the courage to share their story. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Cicilline for that testimony that he read on behalf of John Hegwood, former Army servicemember. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas) to share the story of Air Force veteran Landon Marchant.

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