Mark Takano

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I support this amendment because, by clarifying that vet centers are covered under the bill, we are ensuring that veterans seeking healthcare at any VA facility are allowed access-at-no-cost childcare. Vet centers are particularly attractive to veterans who are uncomfortable in a more clinical setting, and they should be able to seek childcare while they receive their mental health care at a VA vet center.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I would just wish to point out to the ranking member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, General Bergman, that his amendment would not even allow for the repurposing of existing facility space that may exist at a VA. It is so rigid that it would be difficult to even put protective electrical sockets in to prevent young children from electrocuting themselves. Even minor construction would be prohibited by this amendment. I am pleased to know that the general is serving on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and I do plan to work with the chairman, Mr. Pappas of New Hampshire, and him to make sure that VA money is well spent. As I said, this amendment would simply prevent reasonable expansion of this program, and that is something that members of this committee and Members of this House would not want to see happen. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment, which would prevent additional VA hospitals and clinics from providing onsite childcare to veterans receiving care at VA hospitals and clinics. VA only has four childcare sites throughout the VA system, and this amendment would prevent further expansion of the program by preventing a VA hospital or clinic from even doing basic things to provide convenient childcare, things like covering electrical sockets to make a facility safe for young children or putting up fencing around the playground so children can play safely. As our colleague, Ms. Shalala, reminded us during the Rules Committee meeting yesterday, and as many parents of young children quickly learn, most private childcare facilities do not allow children to be temporarily dropped off for just a few hours. Childcare facilities need to know whether children are up to date on their vaccinations, have food allergies or other medical conditions to provide safe care. This means VA must have the flexibility to determine how best to execute this program at each of its facilities throughout the country. If this means that it makes sense to build an onsite childcare center, VA should not be barred from doing so. I think this amendment was written without considering its effects, which would limit further the expansion of the program and prevent veterans from being able to access childcare and their healthcare when they need it. Any of us who have been on this committee long enough know that VA has had trouble managing major construction projects. Admittedly, this is what we know on the committee. And I am just as outraged as my colleagues across the aisle when VA construction projects are mismanaged and money is wasted. However, we are talking about minor construction that, in many cases, will be necessary to expand this program to all eligible veterans who need it. There are other ways in which we can ensure the money for this program is not mismanaged, and it doesn't need to be something as drastic as preventing construction which will, in effect, prevent the program's expansion. Now, I hope to work with General Bergman and my other colleagues on this committee to prevent mismanagement of construction projects, procurement of the $16 billion electronic health record, and other contracts and programs at the VA; and I pledge to work with the general to ensure funds for construction of childcare facilities are not wasted. Mr. Chair, I must say that I have to urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I support this amendment because veterans are not immune from the opioid epidemic. They are not immune to alcoholism or substance abuse. When a veteran is also suffering from post-traumatic stress or other serious health conditions that may have caused dependency on a substance, we should do everything we can to make sure that veteran can receive care. I thank the gentleman for offering this very important amendment, and I urge all my colleagues to support it.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Let me say for the record that I believe, if a veteran is receiving care at a facility, in this case in Hawaii on travel from Saipan, that the intent of the legislation would provide that childcare for the time necessary for that veteran, and it would be at a VA facility. It would be childcare at a VA facility in Hawaii, in this particular case. Madam Chair, in closing, I do urge that my colleagues support the amendment by Mrs. Radewagen, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan).

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment to ensure that our taxpayer dollars are spent according to Congress' intent. I agree that childcare should only be provided to veterans when they are using the childcare to attend their healthcare appointments. I thank the gentlewoman for working with me to make this amendment bipartisan and ensure it is clear to the VA that they cannot revoke this benefit from veterans for missing an appointment. The intent of this amendment is not to be an incentive to access care. It is simply to make it easier for veterans to make it to their appointments. It will be up to us as lawmakers to keep close oversight over this program and many others at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This committee will keep close watch over the resources we provide and the programs we authorize at the VA. We will hold VA leaders accountable when these programs are not carried out according to congressional intent, or made in a haphazard and uninformed manner, or without the purpose of doing what is best for veterans. I look forward to working with the gentlewoman and my colleagues on this committee to oversee the successful execution of this childcare program so any eligible veterans who need childcare can get it. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I support this amendment because, by clarifying that community-based outpatient clinics are covered under the bill, we are ensuring that veterans seeking healthcare services at any VA facility are able to receive no-cost childcare.

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I wholly support Ms. Brownley's bill, H.R. 840. I urge my colleagues to join me in its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today because what our country is going through is a disgrace: 800,000 Federal workers are going without a paycheck. They are suffering, and their families are suffering, all because the President wants a wall that is nothing more than a monument to hate. The American people are tired of this President's games. Last night, I called some constituents who had contacted my office because they are furloughed due to the Trump shutdown. I talked to a Forest Service worker from my district who has missed a paycheck and doesn't want to be used as a bargaining chip by the President. I talked to another constituent who works at the National Archives and is experiencing the consequences of this shutdown. She knows that the longer this drags on, the more people who will get hurt. Last night, I received a heart-wrenching message from a constituent who is experiencing hardship and needs to apply for assistance programs, but she can't because she can't even access the information she needs from the Office of Personnel Management. This has to end. We have voted not once, not twice, but 11 times to reopen the government. Leader McConnell and the Senate Republicans have blocked these bills in the Senate every step of the way. To them, I say: Enough. Do your jobs, not the President's bidding. 800,000 workers and the rest of the American people demand it, and so do we.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of Riverside's finest citizens, Robert ``Bob'' Melsh. Bob dedicated his life to community, to activism, and to making our society more just and equal for everyone. His commitment to the political process and to our democracy has been integral to the growth and political involvement in Riverside. Through his work, he found a way to get everyone engaged and make everybody know their value in our democracy. He encouraged people to raise their voices and make sure elected officials listened. Bob was an organizer. He knew what our community cared about; he fought for what we needed; and he was a force to be reckoned with. For Bob, social progress was inevitable but not without effort. I had the honor to know Bob beyond the world of politics, and I will always remember him recounting his story of organizing a concert for the iconic Louis Armstrong, otherwise known as Satchmo, in Riverside. Bob, I am going to really miss you. Riverside is going to miss you.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today because nearly 500 Amtrak workers in Riverside are being forced to uproot their lives or lose everything they worked so hard for, a good, stable union job that pays them well and gives them benefits. This nightmare scenario is born out of a sudden decision by Amtrak to shutter its call center in Riverside in what amounts to a union-busting maneuver to outsource jobs and replace these employees with contractors for lower pay. Today, I want the Amtrak CEO to hear, not from me, but from Theresa Kolaras, an Amtrak employee in Riverside, and U.S. Army veteran, who will be losing her job on January 18 if Amtrak moves forward with this call center closure. And here is what Theresa had to say: Growing up, it was my dream to serve my country. That's why I joined the JROTC program in high school. And after 9/11, I enlisted with the U.S. Army with hopes of making a difference and happy to have a career. My job wasn't glamorous. I was a Unit Support Specialist, MOS 92 Yankee. But I was proud to be serving during a difficult time for our country. Unfortunately, just as my platoon was readying to deploy, I suffered successive fractures in my foot that wouldn't heal. I was honorably discharged due to the injury and, just like that, my dreams were cut short. At the time, nothing saddened me more than having to watch my friends deploy without me. Saddled with my foot that wouldn't heal, I now had to figure out what to do with my life. Jobs were hard to find due to having to choose ones that kept me off my feet so much. I found many odd jobs here and there and, within a few years, I finally started a family and continued my education. In 2014, I was ecstatic to find out I was hired with Amtrak, as I come from a railroad family, and was proud to continue that tradition. Being able to work at our call center in Riverside was a blessing for my family and me. Amtrak's reputation for its passengers and its employees gave me hope for a brighter future. Living in California is nearly impossible, with its high cost of living, especially being a single mother of two boys. I was able to take care of my kids on the great benefits and wages at Amtrak. My boys love the train and enjoy our many trips we were able to take. Now, on November 14, I got a sudden awakening as I got notice that Amtrak would be closing our call center in Riverside. Amtrak reassured us employees our jobs were secure. As months went by, Amtrak started closing stations, putting employees out of work, and many of us in Riverside started to worry about our jobs. Now that feeling of worry is a reality, and we're left wondering why Amtrak has been so dishonest. Amtrak sent out a letter to us stating that they are not laying us off, but we are able to go to its Philadelphia call center. Now, I count myself among the great majority that just can't pick up on short notice and leave. I have small children and share custody, and I can't legally move my kids out of state. I honestly have no idea where my children and I will go. We have a month to figure out where to live, as I can't pay rent without a job, along with this injury that I still deal with every day. I am one of the many employees who are at a hardship, and a few days away from closing we still don't have any real answers or hope that we will at least have a severance package. Amtrak has been quiet, and I am still in disbelief that this was once a company that was known for its employee and customer loyalty. Many of us loved our jobs because we were proud of the railroad, proud to wear the name, and proud to help our customers plan their trips. Now, at work these last few days, I see people with despair in their faces and loss of hope in their eyes. I still have hope that Amtrak will wake up and realize that the direction they are going is hurting its customers and its employees, which are their biggest fans. This decision is both ethically and morally wrong. I would like to thank Theresa for allowing me to read her powerful statement to Amtrak's CEO. As of today, 39 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and I, as well as Senator Feinstein and Senator Harris, have joined the Amtrak workers in this fight. We will do everything we can do to fight this closure until the bitter end.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3444, a bill to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as the Douglas Fournet Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic. I support this bill from Senator Cassidy to name this clinic after Louisiana Medal of Honor recipient Douglas Fournet. I have no further speakers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of S. 3444, 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 today in support of S. 3777, the Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act of 2018. This bill from Senators Boozman and Schatz will help keep the VA accountable as it moves forward to fix the issues it has run into in fully implementing the Forever GI Bill. As we continue our oversight over VA's implementation of the Forever GI Bill, I am glad this bill provides us with more tools to do so. I have no further speakers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of S. 3777, the Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act of 2018, 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 today in support of H.R. 6418, as amended, the VA Website Accessibility Act of 2018. This bill from Representative Esty mandates that the VA finally make all of its websites compliant for visually impaired individuals. This is a long-overdue action that the Blinded Veterans Association has tirelessly advocated for to make VA communications and information fully accessible to everyone, and I am proud to support this bill. I have no further speakers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 6418, as amended, 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 in strong support of the House amendment to S. 2248, the Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018. This bipartisan measure contains legislation championed by my House and Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle and is a testament to the bipartisan relationships we cultivate and preserve on both the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. I thank Chairman Roe and all members of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees, both Democrats and Republicans, for their hard work putting together this legislative package that will improve the benefits and support our country owes America's veterans. I want to specifically acknowledge my Democratic colleagues, Ranking Member Walz, now Governor-elect of Minnesota--and, yes, Chairman Roe, it is very cold there--Congressman Scott Peters, Congressman Correa, Congresswoman Pingree, Congressman Himes, and Congresswoman Bustos, who have made valuable contributions to this legislation. I would also like to take this time to thank Dr. Roe for his leadership as chairman of this committee in this Congress. I look forward to working with Dr. Roe as ranking member of the 116th Congress so that we can continue to function as a productive committee in the 116th, free from partisan gridlock, on behalf of the veterans whom we represent. Now, as a former teacher--actually, a current teacher--and advocate for improving educational and training opportunities for veterans, I am pleased this legislation contains several provisions written by my colleagues that will improve the lives of our student veterans and those of our Gold Star spouses. This package also includes a provision that helps our reservists and National Guard members access the valuable help that the vocational rehabilitation program can provide. I would first like to highlight legislation written by Mr. Peters, our colleague on this committee. This measure contains his bill, H.R. 5538, that would provide parity to our National Guard and Reserve servicemembers involuntarily mobilized to Active Duty under 12304b of title 10 in support of commands that conduct combat missions. As our country continues to utilize our Guard and Reserve members as an operational reserve force, it is critically important that we modernize our statutes to treat our Guard and Reserve members who have served shoulder to shoulder with Active-Duty servicemembers on multiple deployments with parity while they serve in uniform. This bill allows Guard and Reserve members to stop the clock on the 12-year limit to use vocational rehabilitation programs while they are supporting active combat missions. Currently, the clock is stopped for most other instances in which National Guard and Reserve are mobilized, but this particular authority was overlooked. This is an important fix because the Department of Defense continues to increase the use of its 12304b authority. With this provision, Congress has the authority to be proactive in addressing the needs of our servicemembers. Now, let me turn to Congressman Himes' bill, H.R. 3634, the Securing Electronic Records for Veterans' Ease Act of 2017. It is included in this measure as well. For student veterans, the VA does not currently provide sufficient information about the exact amount of housing stipend that a beneficiary will receive under the GI Bill benefits; but many veterans rely on their housing stipend to pay for housing while they are attending school, making it necessary for them to show proof of their housing allowance as proof of income. Without this proof of income, veterans often find themselves unable to secure housing before the start of school. Now, this is a commonsense piece of documentation that VA can electronically provide to allow our veterans to easily use their earned benefits, and I am pleased this great idea by Congressman Himes was included in this package. Congresswoman Bustos' legislation, H.R. 5882, the Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Act, would allow the spouse of a deceased servicemember to terminate a housing lease following the death of his or her loved one. Servicemembers and their families are often stationed far from home due to the needs of the service. In the sad and difficult time after the passing of a servicemember, spouses should not be locked into a rental lease far away from their home and support network and face an additional financial burden to return home. This small detail can make life a lot easier for a grieving spouse, and I am pleased to see my colleague's bill included in this package. Congressman Lou Correa, our colleague on this committee, introduced H.R. 4335, the Servicemember Family Burial Act, which makes permanent VA's practice of providing burials and headstones for the family of servicemembers who predecease them. When an Active-Duty servicemember loses a spouse or a child, it is always in tragic and difficult circumstances. VA should continue to seamlessly provide this benefit with dignity, sensitivity, and compassion. I want to thank Congressman Correa for sponsoring this legislation, and I am pleased to see it included in this measure. I also wish to highlight legislation written by Congresswoman Pingree, the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017, which is included in this legislative package. The American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars testified before our committee that the debt collection letters VA sends veterans are confusing, do not clearly explain the reason for the debt or clearly describe the steps a veteran must take to dispute or mitigate the debt. This legislation would require VA to explain the reason the veteran incurred a debt in plain language and clearly explain the steps they can take to dispute or repay the debt. It would also require VA to give veterans the option to opt-in to electronic notification and require VA to determine the number of veterans who are not receiving debt notification letters due to incorrect addresses on file, which prevents veterans from taking action because they have not been notified. This legislation forces VA to make these changes within 90 days of enactment. Finally, I wish to thank my good friend, Ranking Member Tim Walz, for his leadership on this committee during the 115th Congress. The Governor-elect of Minnesota leaves the United States House of Representatives with a legacy of bipartisan legislative accomplishments that will undoubtedly improve the lives of veterans for years to come. I want to thank Chairman Roe and our Senate colleagues for including his bill, H.R. 4245, the Veterans' Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act of 2017, in this measure, enabling this committee to continue its oversight of the $16 billion Electronic Health Record Modernization, or EHRM, program over the next 10 years. Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman, Chairman Roe, we are going to do intensive oversight of this project; I guarantee you that. This legislation requires the VA to submit contract, technical, and other documents to Congress and to provide updated documents on a quarterly basis. The legislation also requires VA to notify Congress about program challenges, including incidents affecting patient safety, cost overruns over $1 million, and a milestone delay of 30 days or more, bid protests, or a data or privacy breach. Now, we know that we will likely need to expand these reporting requirements in the future to include other contract and technical documents as the program matures and additional technical capabilities are achieved. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the next Congress to ensure that we maintain close oversight of this program and hold VA accountable, if necessary. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the House amendment to S. 2248, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I want to urge all my colleagues to join me in passing this important legislation, S. 2248. I want to announce my intention to work with Mr. Roe, my colleague from Tennessee, in the next Congress, that we will preserve the sacred bipartisan space that we have here for America's veterans in the Veterans' Affairs Committee. We have so much more to do, and I hope it lays the groundwork for this Congress to continue to heal and reach out to each other and serve America as well as our veterans. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa), my colleague, my good friend and fellow Californian, and member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree), my good friend.

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Himes), my good friend and also a member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Mr. TAKANO

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of California State Senator Robert Presley. His life's work represents some of the best of what Riverside can produce. He was a war hero and was awarded the Bronze Star in World War II. He was an honorable law enforcement officer, and earned the reputation of being a fair truth seeker, even during times of unrest in Riverside. He was an honest public servant. He accomplished great things for Riverside, and moved our State forward as a California State Senator. When I was in my twenties, Bob gave me a chance. He named me as his alternate to the Central Committee of the Riverside County Democratic Party, which allowed me to follow my passion for public service, and for that, I will always be grateful. Bob will be dearly missed, but his name, his work, his Democratic spirit, and the legacy he left behind will be cherished by our community forever.