Timothy Walz

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, as a former Command Sergeant Major, I would like to take this time to recognize a fellow Non-Commissioned Officer who has dedicated his life to the United States Army and to this country. Master Sergeant Brent P. Schol will retire from the United States Army after a lifetime of service to this nation. Brent has been the epitome of a particular line in the Non-Commissioned Officer Creed, which continues to inspire me to this day: ``No one is more professional than I.'' As part of a long, strong line of Non- Commissioned Officers dating back 243 years, Brent has done his part to be the backbone of our great Army by consistently doing the two things that we always ask of our NCOs: accomplishing the mission and taking care of America's sons and daughters. You can say that Master Sergeant Schol has ``earned his spurs.'' Throughout his career, he has served in every aspect on an M1A1/M1A2 Tank from Loader to Tank Commander. Other assignments have included Troop/Squadron Master Gunner, Squadron and Regimental Operations Non- Commissioned Officer, and Company/Troop First Sergeant. He currently serves on the Cobra Team at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California as a Cavalry Troop Trainer and will retire from the Army on October 1, 2018. Brent is a native of Granada Hills, California and was born Sept 14, 1979. He entered the Army on Sept 8, 1998 and attended unit training for armor crewmembers at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The units Brent served with are many. He has served with B Company and HHC, 1st Battalion, 34th Armor; HHC, 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor; A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment; H Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment; HHT, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment; D Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment; D Co and C Co, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment; HHBN, 4th Infantry Division; 7- 10 and 2-1 CAV; and Operations Group National Training Center. His deployments have included a deployment to Kuwait in 2001 and to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2005. His military education includes the Basic Leader's Course, Advanced Leader's Course, Senior Leader's Course, Air Assault School, Battle Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Course, and the M1A1 Master Gunner Course. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star medal, three Meritorious Service medals, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, six Army Commendation Medals, eight Army Achievement medals, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Force Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign medal with 2 bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer professional development ribbon with numeral three, five Good Conduct Medals, three Overseas Service Ribbons, and two Meritorious Unit Citations. Brent is finishing his Master of Science in Military History from American Military University and will be returning to Santa Clarita, CA upon retirement. Brent is married to the former Julie Anna Curtis and has one daughter named Madison. On this Army birthday, it seems fitting to say thank you to Master Sergeant Schol and his family and wish them good luck as they open a new chapter in their lives. ``Centurions!''

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of Lieutenant Colonel Joey L. Errington's change of command and pending retirement from the United States Army, I want to recognize him and his family on their nearly 30 years of service to the Nation. Originally from Rush City, Minnesota, LTC Errington enlisted in the Army in 1989 as a 13B, Cannon Crewman. He was selected for the Green to Gold Program at Clemson University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 1997. He is a graduate of the Field Artillery Basic Course, the Field Artillery Career Course at Fort Sill, OK, and the Command and General's Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, KS. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education from Clemson University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Webster University. During his tenure, he led our soldiers at each echelon from the platoon to battalion, and, today, LTC Errington is relinquishing command of the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. His previous assignments include the III Corps G3 Chief of Training at Fort Hood, TX; Deputy Brigade Commander, Executive Officer, and Fire Support Officer for the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS as well as the Battalion S-3 for the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery; Assistant Professor of Military Science at Saint John's University, College of Saint Benedict's, and Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota; Battalion Fire Direction Officer, S1, and Charlie Battery Commander for 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany; and Task Force Fire Support Officer, Platoon Leader, and Company Fire Support Officer for 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery at Fort Riley, Kansas. LTC Errington's decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Presidential Unit Citation. He is married to the former Alison Adams of Hermantown, MN and they have three children: Brooke, who is going to start college at Kansas State University in the fall, Billy, and Becky.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I was absent for Roll Call No. 205 (on the final passage of H.R. 2). Had I been present, I would have voted ``No.''

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I was absent for Roll Call No. 165 (H.R. 4, FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018). Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes'' on this vote

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I would certainly encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Brownley), a champion of veterans--a champion in many areas--and on this issue of treating our female veterans with the dignity, respect, and services that they have earned.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa), the chief author of this bill and a good friend to veterans across the country.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of Congressman Correa's and Chairman Roe's bill, H.R. 4334, the Improving Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act. The gentleman from California has proven over the course of his time in Congress that he is a dedicated advocate for our fastest growing population of veterans: female veterans. His experience working on behalf of veterans in the State of California in the legislature has translated into an informed compassion that has earned the respect of the committee. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4334 does require VA to exercise proper oversight of community care providers it contracts with in order to provide sex- specific healthcare to women when its facilities do not have the equipment or the specialists necessary to care for them. The latest study by the RAND Corporation confirms that VA delivers superior healthcare to veterans, when compared to the private sector. Previous independent studies confirm this. For this reason, VA should better monitor the quality of care received by women in the community, and this bill would require that careful monitoring so that women veterans receive high-quality care. VA should always remain at the center of managing veterans' healthcare. And managing the care veterans receive in the community by only contracting with high-quality providers with the competence to provide treatment to veterans is a major part of ensuring that they receive the highest quality care. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio and the gentlewoman from California for addressing this. It is a smart move to do this, continuing to keep our focus. While our numbers are improving in areas, we know this is a zero-sum proposition. Any veteran on the street is one too many. So I appreciate any effort that is made. This is a good piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Brownley), my good friend. She is a true champion of veterans and is the conscience on this issue in our committee of alleviating veterans' homelessness.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4451, and thank the gentleman and everyone involved in this piece of legislation. Veteran homelessness, combating it and reducing it to zero, has been a focus of this committee for many years. Direct services provided by HVRP include placement, skills training, job development, career counseling, and resume writing. It is the only nationwide program focused on assisting homeless veterans in reintegrating into the workforce. This is incredibly important because reintegrating homeless veterans into the workforce is the best way to ensure that they do not reenter homelessness again. This would reauthorize the program for 5 years. Reducing veteran homelessness remains our priority. I believe this piece of legislation will get us there. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, once again, Mr. Speaker, I would just remind everyone here that these are not just naming bills. This is our history; it is important. The four stories told today are an amazing testament to what bill we can do as a people, and these individuals deserve this honor. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I, too, rise in support of designating the VA medical center in Huntington, West Virginia, the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams VA Medical Center. You are going to hear more detail from the gentleman from West Virginia, but it is once again proving the point that these are not exercises in futility. This is how America honors and remembers. Our children need to know who these people were when their name shows up on the VA medical center. On this one, I think the gentleman from West Virginia knows this, but we were discussing this over here, all of us in Minnesota got to know who he was last February when the world was watching. Some of us remember the moment when people said: ``Who is that marine who walked out and tossed the coin at the Super Bowl?'' It was this gentleman. I remember the sense of pride and the sense of awe, and we kind of got things into perspective because they told a little background on his story: that we were going to watch a game, and this gentleman was out there fighting for the freedoms to allow that game to happen. It was a wonderful moment. I am certainly proud and grateful to encourage people to cast a ``yes'' vote on this piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in strong support of S. 1282, which names three veterans clinics in Montana. Again, I will reiterate what I said earlier, that sometimes I hear people disparagingly talk about how we are not doing anything in Congress except naming VA clinics and post offices. That is right. We are naming three VA clinics for three American heroes again. You just heard Chairman Roe give the stories of David Thatcher, Ben Steele, and Dakaak Baako and what they did for this Nation. These are movie scripts in any other world, except this is real life, real American heroes who did exactly what was asked of them and then, in each one of these cases, returned back home to build this Nation. I oftentimes, and I will continue to say it, when you drive by a VA clinic and there is a name on it, google it, because you will be amazed at what your fellow citizens can do. Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R. 5044. The gentleman has brought a really important point forward. Currently, if a veteran's death results in their small business becoming less than 51 percent owned by a service-disabled veteran, the surviving spouse can acquire the veteran's ownership interest if the veteran had a 100-percent disability rating. This allows the surviving spouse to keep their loved one's small business status. However, the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran who had less than a 100-percent disability is not allowed to do the same. This is a clear-cut case, I think, of spirit and intent of the law. I don't think anyone intended for a 60-percent service-disabled veteran who maybe lost a limb in combat, and then who dies, for their spouse to lose their eligibility. It is a really important point to bring up. This bill will now permit a surviving spouse to maintain a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business status for a period of 3 years after the veteran's death, or until the spouse remarries. This simply allows a Gold Star spouse a bit more time after a loved one's death to settle any business affairs of the deceased spouse it had. It is the right thing to do to ease the burden that comes with the loss of a spouse in expression of our gratitude for their family's service. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Ohio's willingness to point this out, I strongly support this, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation. I am grateful for the gentleman bringing it up. I encourage its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation. I thank the gentleman for bringing it up. The taxpayers understand that this is exactly what we are supposed to be doing. I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4958, the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act. As the chairman said, it is our responsibility to make sure the guarantee of these benefits is not eroded by inflation. It provides for a simple cost-of-living adjustment at the same rate as set for Social Security benefits. It may seem like a small amount in any one year, but without the adjustment for inflation, the impact on veterans' finances is significant when compounded over time. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the subcommittee chairman, Mike Bost, for his work, and Elizabeth Esty, both for cosponsoring the bill and bringing it to us today. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe and his staff for their work clearing this bill. It is an important one. Our veterans have been waiting for word on this. I think I am happy to report it looks like we have taken that step moving it forward. It will make a lot of folks happy. I hear about this one a lot, so you know it is on their minds. It just makes sense, and doing it before Memorial Day sends a really strong message. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 4958, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation, I support its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5418, as amended. The Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical Purchasing Stabilization Act ties into what we were just discussing. For many years, we have heard complaints that the VA formulary did not meet the needs of VA healthcare providers, thus making the delivery of healthcare to our Nation's heroes even more challenging. As VA worked toward a solution, the Government Accountability Office recommended that clinicians who treat veterans should be at the center of the decision making. Involving clinicians at every step of building a medical supply formulary is the same best practice employed by other private sector and nonprofit hospitals. We have got wonderful physicians on this committee. It makes sense that they should be there. I have heard it time and time again over the years that we get better results when we do that. That is why this committee was concerned when VA proposed that it would outsource the development of its medical-surgical supply formulary to vendors who had no experience treating patients. This proposal goes against best practices in the private and nonprofit healthcare industry. This legislation would prevent VA from outsourcing formulary development. It would also ensure VA follows best practices and sticks to a timeline so that VA facilities and vendors have a predictable, functional medical supply. Now VA must demonstrate it is willing to put the right leadership and resources in place to appropriately manage the project and ensure the actual end users of the formulary, the clinicians treating veterans, have the supplies as needed. Mr. Speaker, again, another good piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I would like to note, on this, there are other issues at hand here. There are certainly some of these cases where people are just blatantly misusing them. That is a small percentage. The vast majority is of leadership not implementing policies. Especially we were talking about the medical-surgical supply formulary, and people are taking the shortcut to getting things instead of getting--we had this conversation on contracts and the way it should be done. The part about this is it isn't somebody going out and buying themselves a new phone or something; it is them going out and buying things that are actually going to be used, but it is a stupid way to do it because we end up paying more money. We don't have certain contracts. It is just is not the way to budget. So I think this has a lot of really good things that it can do. One of them that it should continue to do is force VA leadership to have a better plan in place. We see it right here in the D.C. VA, not having this supply management piece down right. Mr. Speaker, I encourage support of this piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the gentleman whether he has any further speakers.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5215, the Veterans Affairs Purchase Card Mitigation Act. I have often said I am the VA's staunchest supporter, but I will be their harshest critic. On this one, I will be their harshest critic. Time and again when we hear reports of VA employees misusing purchase cards, that cannot stand. Every dollar that is misused, whether it is through fraud, waste, or abuse, is one less dollar that is not being used towards veterans, and it is the taxpayers' dollars that need to be guarded. This misuse erodes Congress' ability to oversee the VA budget and the use of the money. Employees who misuse purchase cards should be held accountable and should be prevented from being a purchase card holder or authorizing official, because they can't be trusted to follow the regulations or be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. This legislation will ensure that taxpayer dollars are protected from purchase card misuse. If you are doing it right, you can still use the card and it can serve veterans. If you choose to ignore the rules, you are not going to be able to do it anymore. It is pretty simple. It is a smart piece of legislation. I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for his great work on this. I encourage its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for, once again, bringing up a really important piece of legislation. I believe the gentleman is also the longest serving member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Any piece of important legislation over the last decade-plus has had his hand in it. H.R. 4830, as amended, is a bill that we have worked on in a bipartisan basis with TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. TAPS came to the committee and to Mr. Bilirakis, after they heard from many surviving spouses that with all of the changes that were being implemented on August 1, there will be delayed payments and processing times for payments for veterans and survivors enrolled for the fall 2018 semester. The Forever GI Bill that we are all in this body proud of passing and proud of updating contains several large-scale changes the VA is currently working very hard to implement. Some of those changes went into effect in the fall of 2017, and TAPS reported to the committee that, because of delays in VA payments, many schools demanded payment from students. There were stories of students who were not allowed to attend class, register for classes, or use campus facilities only because the VA payment was delayed. In some cases, students were even put on a payment plan they could not afford or forced to take out student loans with egregious orientation fees in order to continue their education. This bill will provide students receiving VA payments with the same protections as those who receive title IV funding, such as Pell Grants and Federal student loans. These title IV students are allowed to attend classes, participate in extracurricular activities, and use campus facilities as long as their school knows payment is forthcoming. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4830, as amended, will give the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the ability to disapprove any course of education unless the educational institution providing the course permits individuals to attend or participate in courses pending payment by the VA and accept a certificate of eligibility as a promise. As such, the bill will serve as a preventive measure to discourage schools from engaging in shutting out VA beneficiaries simply because of an administrative delay. This is a really good step toward ensuring that our student veterans and other GI Bill beneficiaries are not unnecessarily prevented from getting the most of their benefits due. To be very clear about this, there are very few benefits that are really earned in the way a GI Bill benefit is earned. Those of us who have used the GI Bill to get an education know how important it is. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for continuing to show care for these veterans. This is a great, smart piece of legislation. I encourage its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.