Mark Takano

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. 1271.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1271) to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a pilot program instituting a clinical observation program for pre-med students preparing to attend medical school.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1271, the Vet HP Act. The Department of Veterans Affairs reported last month that it has 48,985 vacancies. That means about 10 percent of the positions at VA are unfilled. Sadly, a majority of these vacancies are Veterans Health Administration vacancies. VA does not have enough doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other medical providers and support staff to make sure veterans have timely access to the high quality healthcare delivered by VA. With shortages in areas like mental health and primary care, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain a facility's efficiency and quality. That is why it is so important that VA does everything it can to fill every last vacancy. The committee is not blind to the challenge of meeting this laudable goal. Hospital systems throughout the country also face health provider shortages. Rural areas and some urban areas are often the most in need of providers. However, that should not be an excuse for inaction, and relying solely on community providers who also face shortages and lack the expertise and cultural competency to provide for veterans' specific healthcare needs is an incomplete, problematic, and high-cost solution. The VA must work to recruit and retain talented and mission-driven clinicians and employees who are guided by one goal: to provide the best possible care to veterans when they need it. The bill offered by Congresswoman Kaptur from Ohio is a creative and necessary step towards ensuring VA is able to fill each vacant position. The Vet HP Act seeks to expose undergraduate students considering careers in medicine to experience the VA healthcare environment directly. By allowing undergraduates to observe the work of staff at VA medical centers firsthand, the department can begin recruiting early--by sowing interest in students about the VA's mission and the healthcare, research, academic, and professional opportunities available to clinicians at VA medical centers. As an educator of 70 percent of the Nation's healthcare providers, VA can create an early familiarity with VA among students thinking about or preparing for careers in medicine. Our Nation's future healthcare providers may be more likely to choose residencies at academic affiliates of VA medical centers and careers at VA if they are more familiar with VA's mission and are able to observe the improvements VA clinicians are able to make in the lives of those who have served our Nation. Moreover, as the veteran population becomes increasingly more diverse, VA should strive to recruit students from backgrounds as diverse as the military and veteran population so that VA staff and clinicians reflect that growing diversity and are better equipped and able to understand the needs of the veterans they serve. In an effort to create a pipeline of diverse, mission-focused students, this bill focuses specifically on students who graduated from high schools in health professional shortage areas, students who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other institutions of higher education that serve minorities, and first-generation college students. Giving students this exposure to VA's mission will help address the VA's 48,985 vacancies so that it can continue to provide the healthcare veterans need. I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), who is my good friend and the author of this bill.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of my colleague, the ranking member, about our effort to insert 1,500 medical residencies into the Choice bill. That was one of the great accomplishments of that particular Congress. I would point out that we still face shortages nationally of physicians and specialists, and we face a great challenge with our medical workforce and our healthcare workforce, and that impacts the VA's ability to fill these positions. I particularly want to highlight the gentlewoman from Ohio's comments about young people who do not have the connections to medical professionals, or they are not necessarily connected to the professional segments of our society where they might be exposed to what it means to be a medical professional and what it means to serve the VA's mission. I think that her insights and her experience and what she brings to this bill is a tremendous understanding of the need for those of our young people who come from lower incomes or who come from segments of society that could be left behind. We have Americans of great ability whom we need to recruit and expose to the opportunities that await them in organizations like the VA. Let me just say that filling these vacancies is going to be a high priority of the committee and to poke, prod, cajole, and urge the VA to do what it needs to do to reform itself in order to make sure that these positions are filled. Let me emphasize that these positions are funded, that these are funded positions. They are empty, and that, to me, also indicates that we have a workforce training challenge before us. H.R. 1271, offered by my colleague, Ms. Kaptur, is one of the necessary steps that we need to take in order to fill those vacancies. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 1271, the Vet HP Act, 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. 49) to designate the outstation of the Department of Veterans Affairs in North Ogden, Utah, as the Major Brent Taylor Vet Center Outstation.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the life of Major Brent Russell Taylor, who was killed in Afghanistan on November 3, 2018. I thank my colleague, Mr. Bishop of Utah, for bringing this bill before us so that we all may be able to pay tribute to a selfless public servant. Brent was born on July 6, 1979, in Ogden, Utah, the second of eight children of Stephen and Tamara Jones Taylor. Five of his brothers joined him in his military service in the Army National Guard. At an early age, Brent showed his passion for business and politics. During his senior year at Chandler High School, he earned his Eagle Scout award and was elected student body president. He graduated in 1997. Brent was a man of faith. He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he spent 2 years serving as a missionary for the church in the Brazil Maceio Mission from 1998 to the year 2000. This time of full-time service largely impacted the course of the rest of his life. After his mission, Brent attended Brigham Young University, where he met Jennie Kristin Ashworth on a blind date less than a month after she returned from her own full-time service as a church missionary in the Chile Santiago North Mission. They enjoyed a sweet courtship and were engaged on a Saturday in June of 2003. Brent enlisted as a soldier in the Utah National Guard the following Tuesday, with Jennie proudly by his side. They married on September 18, 2003. In 2006, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant from Brigham Young University. He went on to work for the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Ground Intelligence Center, and the Department of Homeland Security. Over the course of 15 years, he served in the Utah Army National Guard, deploying four times in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2009, he was elected to further serve his community by sitting on the North Ogden City Council, and in 2013, he was elected mayor of North Ogden, Utah. In 2018, Major Taylor, a Purple Heart recipient, left on his fourth deployment, acting as an adviser to the Afghan Border Police. He was the first known sitting mayor in Utah history to deploy for wartime service. Tragically, on November 3, 39-year-old Major Taylor was killed in an insider attack by an Afghan trainee he was trying to help. In addition to his wife, Jennie, Major Taylor is survived by seven children: Megan, Lincoln, Alex, Jacob, Ellie, Jonathan, and Caroline. He is also survived by his parents and several siblings. In letters to his wife, Jennie, and his children, his comrade, Afghan Air Force Major Abdul Rahman, said of Major Taylor: ``He died on our soil, but he died for the success of freedom and democracy in both of our countries. ``Your father was a loving, caring, and compassionate man whose life just wasn't meaningful; it was inspirational.'' In his last message to his community on October 28, 2018, Major Taylor wrote: ``It was beautiful to see over 4 million Afghan men and women brave threats and deadly attacks to vote in Afghanistan's first parliamentary elections in 8 years. . . . Many American, NATO allies, and Afghan troops have died to make moments like this possible. ``As the USA gets ready to vote in our own election next week, I hope everyone back home exercises their precious right to vote,'' he wrote, ``and that whether the Republicans or the Democrats win, that we all remember that we have far more as Americans that unites us than divides us.'' As lawmakers, the least we can do to honor Major Taylor is to come together to pass S. 49 into law. His legacy of fighting to protect democracy and freedom and working to unite his community and all Americans must never be forgotten. We can all learn from Major Taylor's example to serve, as he would say, ``whenever and however I can.'' Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I owe a debt of gratitude to Major Brent Russell Taylor and the entire Taylor family for their service and sacrifice to our Nation. I fully support this bill naming the Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center in North Ogden, Utah, as the Major Brent Taylor Vet Center Outstation and urge my colleagues to do the same. 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 just want to say to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Utah, that our hearts go out to the families. When I read the names of the seven children, it was a very difficult moment for me, and we certainly are paying tribute today to his family, his children, and his community of North Ogden, where he served as mayor. It is our tribute to him. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record three letters--a letter from Frank Maughan, Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Department of Utah; a letter from G. Hayes Stromness, Commander of the American Legion, Department of Utah; and a letter from Nick Flake, Commander of the VFW, Department of Utah--all in support of S. 49. November 9, 2018. Chairman Phil Roe, M.D., House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Tim Walz, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz: Please accept this letter as demonstrating the total support of the Utah Department of the Disabled American Veterans, in recognition of the ongoing initiative to change the name of the Veterans' Center in Ogden, Utah to the Major Brent Taylor Veterans' Center, in memory of Army National Guard major and North Ogden mayor, Brent Taylor. Major Taylor's model of selflessness in the areas of military service and civic responsibility should be a shining example for all Americans to follow. Major Taylor began his military service in 2003, and later received a commission as a second lieutenant from Brigham Young University in 2006. He served in the Utah Army National Guard for 15 years, during which he deployed four times in support of US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. His life of service, however, was not limited to the armed forces, and in 2013 he was elected mayor of North Ogden, Utah. His devotion to duty as a citizen soldier, in the tradition of George Washington, Ulysses Grant and Dwight Eisenhower. In 2018, Major Taylor left on his fourth deployment, acting as an advisor to the Afghan Border Police. Tragically, on Saturday, November 3rd, Major Taylor was killed in an apparent insider attack. He leaves behind his wife and seven children. Today, the state of Utah, and the nation, grieve for Major Taylor. We would like to honor his amazing legacy. To that end we offer our full support, and encourage the committee to support legislation renaming the Ogden facility as the Major Brent Taylor Veterans' Center. Sincerely, Frank Maughan, Commander, Disabled American Veterans, Department of Utah.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and 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. I echo the comments of my colleague from Tennessee. We are a grateful Nation. I am privileged to take part in this tribute to Major Brent Russell Taylor, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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. 1381.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1381) 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.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a friend and someone I looked up to, Mayor Greg Pettis, of Cathedral City, California. Motivated by his drive to fix the injustices that the LGBTQ community faced back in the late eighties, Greg took action and entered public life during a time when acceptance and understanding was not the norm. He inspired many, including me, by taking a courageous stance and living life as his true self, becoming Riverside County's first openly gay elected official. It was Greg's persistence that encouraged me to continue pursuing my passion to serve my community, regardless of the setbacks I faced as an openly gay person. Though he was initially motivated by his passion to improve the lives of LGBTQ people, his lifetime of service brought justice to all people. As mayor of Cathedral City, Greg helped improve transportation infrastructure in his region and recognized LGBTQ veterans in his city by erecting a monument in their honor. If his memorial service was any indication, Mayor Pettis' legacy will live on for years to come.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I support this amendment because veterans should be able to receive stipends for extended day programs for their children. Extended day programs are before- or after-school childcare programs that are generally less expensive than traditional childcare services and often include tutoring or other academic assistance to children. If placing children in an extended day program is a convenient way for veterans to make sure their children are being cared for while they attend their healthcare appointments, we should support making this alternative and often less expensive childcare service available to them. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. TAKANO. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TAKANO. The order of the amendments got reversed.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I support this amendment because we want every veteran who may be eligible to receive no-cost childcare to be able to access it. If veterans don't know that they may be eligible to place their child in childcare while they attend their healthcare appointments, they may mistakenly think they will have to miss their healthcare appointments to care for their children. When veterans are not aware of the healthcare benefits available to them, or don't know where or who to turn to for help, the result can sometimes be fatal. When 20 veterans and servicemembers commit suicide every day in this country, and the VA under this administration only spent $57,000 last year out of the $6.2 million set aside for suicide prevention outreach, that is less than 1 percent. The administration's lack of commitment shows. As VA's top clinical priority, we cannot allow VA to continue to fail in its duty to notify veterans of VA's mental health and suicide prevention services, and that is why I support this amendment. If VA is not mandated by Congress to notify and conduct outreach to veterans, it won't do it. Many veterans who would benefit from cost- free childcare won't know it exists.

Mr. TAKANO. That is correct.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and let me also associate myself with the remarks of the ranking member. I thank Congressman Golden for his service and, more importantly, thank him for sharing his story so bravely and forthrightly on the House floor. I hope it will do much to encourage other veterans to seek counseling with the VA. I support this amendment because the transition from military to civilian life can be a stressful time for many veterans. When veterans are simultaneously caring for children, it can be difficult for veterans, during this time when they may be looking for or starting a new job or starting school, to get the mental health services they need. They should not be worried about finding and affording childcare so they can receive mental health counseling and healthcare treatment when the VA can provide it at no cost. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for offering this important amendment.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I support this amendment because veterans living in rural or highly rural areas face many barriers to receiving healthcare. Childcare, whether for a lack of convenience or its high cost, should not be another roadblock for veterans who must sometimes travel great distances for their appointments. This amendment would require VA to report to Congress on the effectiveness and accessibility of no-cost childcare for veterans living in rural communities. This report can, in turn, be used to find solutions for veterans who need both childcare and healthcare in rural communities. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for offering this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I also thank the gentlewoman for her service in our military as a Navy pilot. I support this very important amendment because veterans must be able to trust that childcare centers and childcare providers caring for their children will not place their children at risk. At a very minimum, the veterans should know that when they receive their health services, their children are safe. This amendment would prevent an onsite VA childcare center, or any childcare agency that has a contract with VA, from employing anyone convicted of sex crimes, offenses involving a child victim, violent crimes, drug felonies, or other offenses. Since State and local laws often have even stricter standards when it comes to who can be employed as a childcare provider, this amendment would not supersede those State or local laws or any contract or agreement that requires higher standards to be met. At the very minimum, veterans who need childcare so they can see their healthcare providers must trust that those who are watching their children will keep their kids safe. I thank the gentlewoman for offering this very important amendment.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I support this amendment because veterans, especially women veterans, who have been victims of military sexual trauma, often need intensive healthcare services and mental health treatment that can require frequent appointments at VA medical centers, clinics, and vet centers. Finding convenient, safe, and affordable childcare should not stop veterans from receiving treatment, especially veterans who are victims of sexual assault in the military and suffer from the lasting effects of that trauma. This committee, through the Women Veterans Task Force, led by Congresswoman Brownley, will make access to care for women veterans and their specific healthcare needs a priority of ours. I support this amendment and urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise to support this amendment because it would allow the VA to consult with the Department of Defense on the implementation of this bill. Since DOD provides childcare for servicemembers and their families, VA can look to DOD for best practices so that it can successfully and efficiently expand this program so that every veteran eligible for no- cost childcare while they are receiving healthcare services can access this benefit when they need it. I thank the Congresswoman for offering this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I might also add that I am pleased to see so many of the amendments that my colleagues offered today are adopted. I hope that when we vote on this much improved bill, it will pass with unanimous support so that I can advocate for its swift passage with my Senate colleagues.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the motion to recommit.