David Trone

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, it is clear everybody supports this legislation. All of my police departments, all of my sheriffs, all support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to pass the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act, a bill I am proud to co-lead with my friend, Los Angeles' new mayor, Karen Bass. By funding improved training for police calls involving individuals suffering from mental or behavioral health issues, we make our communities safer. Up to 10 percent of all police encounters involve a person experiencing serious mental health issues. This bill will equip our officers with skills that better secure the safety of our citizens and our first responders. That is what matters. De-escalation improves the trust between law enforcement and the community they are sworn to protect. That is what matters. Building safer communities and protecting lives. That is what matters. After passing unanimously in the Senate, this effort deserves similar support in the House. I thank Senators Cornyn and Whitehouse, and Representatives Bass, Chabot, and Issa for their leadership on this bill.

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, it is time we do right by our officers in our community.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Porter), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, today I rise in support of the mental health of our students at institutions of higher education. Studies show that 73 percent of college students suffer a mental health crisis during their time in college. I came to Congress to improve the future outlook of our country. Well, Mr. Chair, our children are that future. How will our children succeed if they do not have the proper support to flourish? The underlying bill will benefit the mental health of our youth and college-aged students, and my amendment seeks to provide additional guidance to colleges that are trying to help. My amendment would require the Department of Education to provide recommendations on how to improve the mental health and substance use disorder resources on college campuses and guidance on how to adhere to the current Federal laws around access to mental health disability services. We owe our children the best possible opportunity to succeed, and that means paying attention to their mental health in the same way we pay attention to their grades, by keeping them mentality fit. I thank Representative Porter for her continued advocacy for students' mental health, and Representative Bonamici for cosponsoring the amendment. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I sit on three college boards, and all the commentary of the colleges' presidents is the same. We have a major issue dealing with mental health in our colleges, and they would love to have guidance from experts at the Department of Education. Will this be perfect? No. Is anything perfect? No. We all know perfection is the enemy of the good. I suggest we move forward and pass this amendment and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, today I rise to urge my colleagues to pass the Honoring our PACT Act to give our veterans the healthcare they earned. Over 3.5 million veterans have been exposed to toxins, such as burn pits, during deployment, causing horrific health impacts. To add insult to injury, the disability benefit claims process places the burden on our vets themselves to jump through hoops. This is a shameful problem-- a shameful problem--one we are determined to fix. This legislation, which includes my FASTER Presumptions Act, will help cut the red tape and streamline procedures for veterans who have earned it to access their healthcare benefits faster. Our veterans served our country with honor and we have to honor their service. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to honor our PACT through this bill, and I thank Chairman Takano for his leadership.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to applaud the passage of Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, a comprehensive package of over 30 bills, 6 of which I proudly led. Today, over 50 million Americans struggle with mental illness, and over 20 million Americans struggle with substance use disorder. We have lost nearly 1 million lives to suicide and over 1 million Americans to drug overdoses in the last 20 years. Today, we are on course to lose another 1.2 million Americans in the next decade to drug overdoses. We cannot afford to wait until tomorrow, so today, we took action. This effort served as a first step of a continued journey to end these crises that have taken far too long and taken too many. We proudly cast our vote to help save the lives of our fellow Americans. I thank Chairman Frank Pallone, Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers, Leader Hoyer, and their teams for making this vision a reality.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to pass our bill, the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022, so we keep tackling mental health stigma across this country. It has been almost 3 years since Montgomery County Officer T.J. Bomba passed away from suicide. He was 38 years old and left behind a wife and two sons. In the immediate aftermath, we brought together Officer Bomba's colleagues and the head of NIMH, Dr. Joshua Gordon, and others to chart a course of action. We discussed access to care, the stigma surrounding mental health, and how we could be advocates for change. The roundtable produced two calls to action: increasing peer counseling support opportunities for mental health and providing parity and benefits for mental health conditions. I made a promise that day to do everything I could to turn these ideas into law. Six months ago, we accomplished one of our goals when I stood alongside Officer Bomba's wife and two sons as President Biden signed the first of our two bills into law. The COPS Counseling Act increased access to peer support and will help fight stigma and improve access to mental health services. Today, I stand here and applaud the passage of our second bill, the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022. According to research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, public safety officers are 25 times more likely to develop acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other mental health conditions than our general public, and the conditions often go untreated due to the stigma of mental health. As it stands, mental health is excluded from the PSOB program. For officers killed in the line of duty, the family is eligible to receive benefits. However, when an officer dies by suicide that is directly tied to their job, the family is unable to seek death benefits. This bill will address the issue of stigma and provide the overdue parity between physical and mental injuries. Officers that are totally disabled as a result of their service will have access to disability benefits. The families of officers who pass away from service-linked suicide will have access to death benefits. This approach has been endorsed by numerous mental health organizations, including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. With the help of the public safety officer community, mental health experts, and my colleagues in Congress, I am proud to bring this piece of legislation before the House. I thank everyone who joined the roundtable in 2019. We have taken a tragedy and turned it into actionable solutions. I thank all the stakeholders who have worked hard to bring this legislation to the House floor. I appreciate their hard work. I thank, Congressman Reschenthaler, for co-leading this bill and for helping us give it strong bipartisan support.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2514.

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my support for S. 2514, a bill to recognize and remember the life of Colonel Gail Seymour Halvorsen, who passed away on February 16, 2022, at 101 years old. I thank Senator Lee and my colleagues from Utah's congressional delegation for their work to pay tribute to Colonel Halvorsen. Colonel Halvorsen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and in 1942 he joined the Army Air Corps and trained as a fighter pilot. While stationed in Germany, where he flew C-47 and C-54 cargo planes as part of Operation Vittles; Halvorsen noticed dozens of hunger-starved German children outside of the barbed wire fence. Having two pieces of gum, Halvorsen broke it into strips and gave it to the children to share amongst them. Inspired by the children's glee, Halvorsen committed to more frequently distributing candy from his plane to them. Earning his nickname ``The Candy Bomber,'' Halvorsen dropped miniature parachutes of candy rations in the street of Berlin to feed the children. By the end of the Berlin Airlift, Halvorsen and his fellow airmen distributed an estimated 250,000 parachutes with over 20 tons of candy throughout Operation Little Vittles. The Provo Vet Center plays a vital role in the community and provides important services such as counseling for veterans with PTSD and confidential counseling sessions to those who have experienced military sexual trauma--all free to the veterans, reservists, and members of National Guard--regardless of service connection or VA health enrollment status. To rename this important vet center after Colonel Halvorsen would be a fitting honor for one of the Beehive State's most selfless members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, and a letter dated July 28, 2021, from the U.S. Senate. Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Utah, November 1, 2021. Chairman Jon Tester, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Chairman Mark Takano, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Ranking Member Jerry Moran, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Ranking Member Mike Bost, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Tester, Ranking Member Moran, Chairman Takano, Ranking Member Bost: We, the members of the Utah Veterans of Foreign Wars, write to support that the Provo Veterans Center located at 360 South State Street Building C 103 in Orem, Utah be renamed after Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen, affectionately known as the ``Candy Bomber'', who performed military service of an extraordinarily distinguished character during the Berlin Airlift in 1948. Halvorsen's creativity and compassion helped to heal the wounds of the Second World War and softened the relationship between an occupied Germany and the United States. Col. Halvorsen exemplifies the best of our brave veterans who have each demonstrated service before self. Gail Halvorsen was assigned to Germany in 1948 to work as an airlift pilot where he flew C-47 and C-54 cargo planes as part of Operation ``Vittles''. While on mission at Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Halvorsen noticed a group of German children standing just outside the barbed wire fence. The children were destitute and clearly had very little to eat. Halvorsen gave the children two sticks of gum he had in his pocket, which they split into little pieces to share among themselves. The looks of joy on their faces left an indelible impression. Colonel Halvorsen was deeply affected by the experience and wanted to do more to help. He promised the children he would drop more candy to them from his plane as he flew his regular airlift missions. After enlisting his copilot in the project, Halvorsen began attaching their candy rations to miniature parachutes which he dropped from their plane to the starving children below. The children gave Halvorsen many nicknames including ``Uncle Wiggly Wings,'' ``The Chocolate Flyer,'' ``The Gum Drop Kid,'' and ``The Chocolate Uncle.'' He eventually became known around the world as ``The Candy Bomber''. As the candy drops continued, word of ``Operation Little Vittles'' reached the United States. American families, schoolchildren, and candymakers began contributing candy and homemade parachutes that Halvorsen and other pilots could drop. When the Berlin airlift ended, an estimated 250,000 parachutes with 21 tons of candy had been dropped by Halvorsen and his fellow airmen as part of Operation Little Vittles. Halvorsen's candy drops had a significant impact on Berliners' public perception of America. He retired from the military in 1974 after 31 years of service and more than 8,000 hours of flying time. Since his retirement, Halvorsen has continued his humanitarian and community service. He has voluntarily represented the U.S. Air Force and the United States abroad and has re-enacted his famous candy drops several times in Berlin, the Middle East, and around the world in an effort to bring peace and relief. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, a German Order of Merit, an Air Force Commendation Medal, and a Medal for Humane Action. Halvorsen has also been a tremendous boon to his community through his church service. His non-profit organization, the Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Education Foundation, advances aviation education, promotes youth leadership development, enhances community capacity for emergency response, and encourages humanitarian on macro- and micro-levels. The Foundation also provides education by giving free lectures and multimedia presentations on aviation, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics at local schools, community groups, and at its own facility at the Spanish Fork Airport in Spanish Fork, Utah. Renaming the Provo Vet Center in Orem, Utah after Colonel Halvorsen is a fitting and deserved recognition for such an exemplary U.S. Air Force veteran and American hero. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, David Johnson, Commander. Terral Curtis, Sr. Vice Commander. Heath Silcox, Jr. Vice Commander. Dennis Parizek, Adjutant/Quartermaster.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6604) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the method by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines the effects of a closure or disapproval of an educational institution on individuals who do not transfer credits from such institution, as amended.

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing this important piece of legislation, H.R. 6604, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5754, the Patient Advocate Tracker Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5754) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the ability of veterans to electronically submit complaints about the delivery of health care services by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2687) to provide the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs testimonial subpoena authority, and for other purposes.

Mr. TRONE. Madam 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. 2687.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6376) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals who pursue programs of rehabilitation, education, or training on at least a half-time basis, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7375) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update the payment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow for electronic fund transfer of educational assistance, administered by the Secretary, to a foreign institution of higher education.

Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7375, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7153) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a plan to modernize the information technology systems of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TRONE. Madam 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. 7153, as amended.

Mr. TRONE

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1760) to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs planned to be built in Oahu, Hawaii, as the ``Daniel Kahikina Akaka Department of Veterans Affairs Community- Based Outpatient Clinic''.

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1760.

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my strong support for S. 1760, a bill to designate the veterans' health facility in Oahu, Hawaii, as the Daniel Kahikina Akaka Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic, named after the first United States Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry, the late Daniel Akaka. I recognize Senator Mazie Hirono for spearheading this effort to honor a man of such great esteem. The CBOC in Oahu will stand as a lasting testimony to his commitment to the men and women of the Armed Forces, providing countless services and benefits to our Nation's veterans for years to come. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Kai Kahele, whose constituency includes parts of Oahu, for leading this effort on the House side. He grew up the son of a Native Hawaiian mother and a father of Chinese and Native Hawaiian heritage. As a student of Kamehameha, a high school for boys, a military school, Senator Akaka's path was forever changed after having witnessed firsthand Japanese fighter planes attacking Pearl Harbor in 1941. Like most patriotic Americans during World War II, Senator Akaka wanted to join in the U.S. effort to defend our freedom. He ultimately ended up joining the Army Corps of Engineers and served throughout the Pacific theater. After the war, Senator Akaka took advantage of the GI Bill benefits, and earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Hawaii. After working several years in State government, Akaka was persuaded to enter elected office to ensure there would be a Native Hawaiian presence in his State's decisionmaking process. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1977, Daniel Akaka became a congressional champion of indigenous and veteran issues. In 1990, he was elected to represent Hawaii in the United States Senate. Thanks to Senator Akaka's commitment to recognizing the military contributions of the AAPI community, more than 30 Medals of Honor were awarded to Asian and Asian-American World War II veterans; a recognition of their patriotism and bravery that was long overdue. When it comes to the question of naming the VA community-based outpatient clinic in Hawaii, I ask this body: Who better than Daniel Kahikina Akaka; a Hawaiian-born, Hawaiian-serving veteran whose life philosophy was sharing aloha and was a true public servant for over three decades. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from our colleagues in the Hawaiian Congressional Delegation, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, November 17, 2021. Hon. Jon Tester, Chairman, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington,

Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 1760, to designate the soon-to-be-constructed VA community-based outpatient clinic in Oahu, Hawaii, after our friend and former colleague, Daniel Kahikina Akaka. In doing so, this body will appropriately commemorate the significant achievements of America's first Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.