Timothy Walz

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Chairman, once again, I am not only not opposed, I am enthusiastically supportive of the gentlewoman's commonsense, absolutely important piece of legislation. It improves upon the bill. I am glad we had a rule that brought it here, something we have worked on in our committee. I will make note of this. The gentlewoman is absolutely right. The people we just talked about in the last amendment received bonuses also, but the bulk of this bill also deals with kitchen staff, janitorial staff, and rank-and-file members on the floor that we are working to go after their agreed-upon grievance process to keep their jobs. So this amendment is absolutely something that will get total approval from certainly, I believe, all Members of the House. This should be in the bill and will be in the bill. This is how bills get better, address real issues, and take on the issue of accountability in a bipartisan manner. Mr. Chairman, I would encourage all my colleagues to support the gentlewoman. We have more work, as the gentlewoman said in this, but this is how it is done to get it right. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Chair, before I reserve the balance of my time, I would like to point out to the gentleman from Florida that he has a podiatrist right here in Dr. Wenstrup, so we can just solve the problem as we stand. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1367. I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio, first of all, as an incredibly important Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, a doctor himself and, as important, a colonel in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserve. An incredible insight into the very issues we are addressing and, I think, bringing this bill right now, we had a very good debate on fixing the VA, moving them in the right direction. And this piece of legislation is incredibly spot-on about another piece of that accountability. Dr. Wenstrup's bill will help the VA better understand its staffing shortages, and I think this is important. We all say 45,000 openings or whatever; it is important for us to know, do we need to hire all 45,000 of those; which ones are critical; which ones can be done faster. So that piece is common sense. It develops an executive management fellowship program that will allow the VA to send its leaders to the private sector to learn best practices and vice versa; again, incredibly smart, welcome change. It will allow the VA to develop technical advancements, so employees who are in a specific field can advance in title and salary, without moving to a management role. Quality hiring, training, and retention starts with a good HR department. This legislation will provide critical research into best HR practice and then provide the training to VA HR managers. These provisions, along with other hiring authorities, will help the VA get the right people in the door. Currently, as the gentleman said, the process is slow, cumbersome, and, quite honestly, I think it just burns people out before they get there. And these are really dedicated folks who want to serve. I have a gentleman I have become acquainted with who is a nationally renowned cardiac surgeon who left a very lucrative private practice to go to the VA after his son was wounded in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and chose to do his part by going back into the VA system. He mentioned how cumbersome it was. He mentioned some of the bureaucratic troubles that he had, and all he wanted to do was bring an incredible skill set to serve those who served us; and Mr. Wenstrup's bill does exactly that. I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and ask that consideration in support of the amendments be brought forward, be considered. Each of these amendments will improve on a really good piece of legislation, improve the Secretary's ability to recruit, train, and retain a quality workforce. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Chairman, before I yield to the gentleman from Florida, I would like to point out, as a new Member bringing new vitality and new blood to this, how encouraging it is, both to me and, I would hope, to his constituents. Seeking out ways to serve veterans, coming to try and work on legislation in a bipartisan manner speaks volumes for his commitment. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto).

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Chairman, I have no further speakers and will be prepared to close after the gentleman is done. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Chair, I can't thank the gentleman enough--smart legislation combining many good ideas, willingness to incorporate those best practices, and then, I think, forcing VA to start moving in that direction. This is an example, I think, of where the VA is at. And while we may disagree, and you saw a little bit of it today, it is not because there is any disagreement on what the final outcome is. Dr. Wenstrup's bill is smart. It will improve care; it will get good people in the VA; it will retain them; and it will improve HR practices to make sure that happens. I encourage my colleagues to support the bill and some of the amendments that will work to improve upon a very good piece of legislation. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1362. This tribute to our fellow colleague, a fellow veteran, our friend Eni, who passed last month, is truly well deserved. I would also like to thank the gentlewoman from American Samoa for bringing this bill to the floor. And just as importantly, in her time here, she has proven to be the staunchest advocate of this Nation's veterans, a true friend to veterans, and a colleague who carries on Eni's commitment to this unwaveringly. Eni devoted his public life to service, it was clear, ensuring that the unique needs and interests of the people of American Samoa were met in every bill that came through this body. For any of us who worked alongside him during those 13 terms, his unfailing commitment to his people and his ever-present smile will never be forgotten. In addition to his work here and the things you heard the gentlewoman say, Eni served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1969 and as an officer in the United States Army Reserve from 1982 to 1989. He served honorably in the Vietnam war and left the military with the rank of captain. He and his wife were also active members of their church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a Vietnam veteran and Army Reserve captain, congressional aide, lieutenant governor, and Member of Congress, there simply could be no better example of what it means to be a representative of his people and a citizen of this great Nation. I fully support the naming of this outpatient clinic at Pago Pago in his honor and urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan), another true champion of our veterans and a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in passing this important piece of legislation. When those veterans in American Samoa see Eni's name, it will strike them about what he has done and the work that he did here in Congress. I would also like to give a heartfelt thanks again to the gentlewoman for bringing this bill forward and for honoring her friend the way she has. I encourage Members to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I was absent in the House chamber for roll call votes 89, 90 and 91 on Tuesday, February 14, 2017. At the time, and at the request of the President, I was attending the swearing-in ceremony of VA Secretary Shulkin. Had I been present, I would have voted Nay on roll call votes 89, 90 and 91.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from El Paso. I very much appreciate, always, the story and the passion that you have for that great community and look at the leadership that comes out of there. I certainly know in your work for veterans your name will be added to that list. The passion, the willingness to solve problems, the willingness to find and make the tough choices to fulfill this Nation's commitment to our veterans is something I am just proud to serve alongside you. I would echo the gentleman's comments, having the opportunity today to witness the swearing in of Dr. David Shulkin as our next VA Secretary, being there with Vice President Pence along with Senators Isakson and Tester on the Senate side and Dr. Roe, of whom you spoke very accurately, Mr. O'Rourke--a true gentleman, an impassioned advocate for veterans, and a no-nonsense legislator, exactly what we need. You just have to watch the sense of can-do spirit up there and see Dr. Shulkin and his family--with young children--and the sacrifice that goes into public service. This is a gentleman who could make far more money and probably have a lot less headaches if he would continue to serve in the private sector. He chose not to do that for all the right reasons. I think it probably brings us to the message that Mr. O'Rourke is delivering. This is something that unites this country more than anything else: the care and service to our veterans. It doesn't matter your political persuasion, it doesn't matter where you fall on the spectrum, it doesn't matter what you necessarily think of the wars or the conflicts that we are engaged in, but the care for those veterans is something that my folks in Mankato, Minnesota, your folks in El Paso, folks in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Seattle, and every small town in between want us to get right. They want us to use the data to deliver the benefits that were earned. They want us to get it right to show that this Nation's commitment is not something that is fleeting or comes and goes. I think most people understand this is a complex issue. Again, I was reading recently--to put this into perspective--when they make this promise, when they raise their hand to serve this Nation, they are in it for the long haul. The Veterans Benefits Administration is still paying out $73 a month to the daughter of a Civil War veteran. 152 two years after the end of that conflict, this Nation still needs to keep its commitment. So, when you go to war, it comes with a long tail attached to it. That long tail attached is doing what President Lincoln asked us to do: care for those who bore the battle, their widow, and their orphan. I think it is within that spirit that I would encourage our constituents, Mr. Speaker, to take an eye and look at what is happening with veterans' issues. When they don't believe anything can work, and they believe everything up here is a fight and that we couldn't agree it is Tuesday today, that is simply not the case. We have good, smart people working for solutions to difficult problems who are in the best interest of this Nation, the best interest of our veterans, and the best interest of taxpayers. I would encourage people not to make rash generalizations. When people say, Oh, nothing works in the VA, that is not true. Many things work in the VA, and many things work very well. But when they don't, that is an abject failure. When one veteran is left behind or a situation like Phoenix arises, no, that is not good enough, and we can do better. But we have an attitude that we don't need to keep this commitment to the VA, that we don't need to do that, or somehow that we are not already using our resources in the private sector. The gentleman, I am sure, will talk about it, but last year, 31 percent of all healthcare needs were delivered in the private sector in fee-for-service. When that makes sense, when it is most efficient, when it is most convenient for the veteran, we should deliver that, but with an understanding the VA has a core mission to do research into extremity injuries or things that would not happen, outside of industrial accidents or war. The VA needs to be there. The VA needs to be there to train physicians. The VA needs to be there to make sure we keep that accountability, instead of telling a veteran: You are just on your on. Good luck getting your care. It is in that spirit that I, too, am hopeful. I think it needs to be said to our constituents, Mr. Speaker, and it goes through administration after administration, whether you like the administration or not, the commitment to veterans has to be there. They have got some of it right; they have got some of it wrong. I think there is a responsibility that, in the first choice of this administration in dealing with veterans, I believe they might have picked the one person in this country best suited to do the job for veterans. That says a lot. I think it is important to stress that point, understanding that that Secretary can't do it alone. Congress writes the laws. This House authorizes the money to make that happen. We have oversight responsibility, and we have partners in our veterans service organizations who are there to help, whether it be the American Legion, whether it be the VFW, the DAV, the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. These are all folks out there who want to keep that commitment to want to help. The gentleman spoke true, and he spoke true from the heart that, at that one time, people may not have seen service on the VA Committee as something as a prize position. The folks who have found themselves there are committed to this, above everything. They are committed to it above party. They are committed above their own personal advancement. On both sides of the aisle, there is a camaraderie that is rarely seen in the press, that is rarely seen by the general public about getting this right. I think there is much that can be restored. If anything, I oftentimes say how we conduct ourselves in this people's House of Representatives must be a direct reflection on the sacrifice that gives us the right to self govern. Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice were doing it so that citizens could elect their Representatives to debate the issues of the day in a free and open democracy. So just the exercise tonight of having the opportunity and the privilege to share a little of the floor was given to us at great sacrifice. We need to conduct ourselves in a bipartisan, results-oriented manner that honors that commitment. I thank the gentleman from El Paso and look forward to his leadership as our ranking member on subcommittees that are coming up on issues that will affect employees at the VA and delivery of care. I know they are in good hands. As I say it again, I love the stories of El Paso from such an impassioned son of El Paso. I think your constituents should be proud you are there.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would, first of all, like to thank the chairman for bringing H.R. 609 to the floor, and a very special thank you to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) for the honor and privilege to learn about this great American. You heard a little bit of the story, and you will hear more of it from Mr. Kelly. It is sometimes unimaginable that such as Mr. Abraham walked amongst us. I oftentimes hear that people disparage when Congress does naming bills. If anyone was ever deserving of having a VA center named after them, and the importance of attaching that name and the history for those who come after, this is the gentleman. You are going to hear more of this, but Mr. Abraham was born in Lyndora, Pennsylvania. The stories just keep coming up. Apparently he was gifted academically and, of course, was a boxer. Again, this is a point of personal privilege on this, he was actually a Regimental Sergeant Major for a time when he was in his service. He served in the Philippines, China, Germany, and Panama. He survived the Bataan Death March. Having been out on Corregidor Island and hearing the stories of the people who survived, unimaginable horrors that they survived, and then imagine after being rescued and being liberated and having a chance to come home, Mr. Abraham chose to make sure that all of his comrades came home. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and a lifelong member of the VFW, the American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Defenders of Bataan; but I think the chairman brought up something truly remarkable: giving 40,000 hours of volunteer service to his fellow veterans. This Nation could ask no more of a single person, and Mr. Abraham continued to give. To the gentleman from Pennsylvania, the State of Pennsylvania is represented well here. They were represented well by Mr. Abraham. It is an honor and a privilege to support this piece of legislation. I encourage my colleagues to not only support this, but to maybe go read the bio of this great American. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers and I am prepared to close. I would just like to thank the gentleman again for bringing this to our attention, honoring Master Sergeant Abraham's life. Again, I think there is a little lesson here of how we conduct ourselves reflects on the sacrifice that people like Mr. Abraham gave; and the gentleman has done so honorably and nobly, and I thank him for that. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 609. Mr. Speaker, 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 rise in support of H.R. 512, as amended, the WINGMAN Act. I, too, would like to thank the gentleman from Florida for trying to do all they can to speed constituent services to their folks. This legislation gives certain designated congressional office caseworkers access to veterans' electronic disability claim records at the Veterans Benefits Administration, or VBA. It has broad support in this House, both Democrat and Republican. This bill would allow designated congressional employees to have read-only access to the Veterans Benefits Administration database to look at veterans' records. Congressional staff would not be able to add or remove anything from a record, but simply check on the status of a veteran's claim and check that evidence and documentation are submitted. The reason this is so important is that a veteran will, at times, wait months, only to be told a piece of document has been missing that could have been added months before. It makes sense. It tracks the system. It ensures that the veteran is getting the fastest, best possible claim adjudication. The purpose is to provide that faster status and let them know. There are privacy safeguards in the bill, which reinforce the necessity for getting prior consent from the veteran. Also, the bill clearly requires that congressional employees designated for this access must be full- time employees who provide constituent services. Veterans service organizations have suggested that the VA should put a tracking system in place to ensure that these employees are only assisting constituents from their congressional district, and that congressional staff be held accountable if found to abuse any aspect of this new and unprecedented authority. I support that suggestion. In my district, county veterans service organizations have also asked to have read-only access to veterans' records so they can assist veterans. I wish to work with Chairman Roe to examine whether that might be something that could be included down the road. There is broad bipartisan support for giving congressional staff access to veterans' records so they can help veterans navigate a complex claims system. Often it takes too long to find out the status of a veteran's claim from the VA. Allowing certain professional staff to do the checking themselves seems like a simple step in the right direction, and I support it. Last Congress, similar legislation to H.R. 512 unanimously passed this House. I urge my colleagues to support it today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan), my good friend, a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and a stalwart supporter of this Nation's veterans and those in uniform.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard) one of our warriors and a veteran of the war in Iraq, and a staunch advocate for this Nation's veterans.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge support of H.R. 512. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 244, as amended, the HIRE Vets Act. I give a special thank-you to my colleague from California, Colonel Cook, who, himself, is a Vietnam veteran. Since the first day he got into Congress, he has been our veterans' stanchest supporter, and I appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, this is an innovative, bipartisan piece of legislation. The HIRE Vets Act directs the Department of Labor, or DOL VETS, to establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program. This program solicits voluntary information from private sector employers, which we know they want to give--and we know they are out there hiring folks--and allows these employers to display, with other marketing materials, a recognized medallion as a symbol of their support and willingness to make sure we hire veterans. Employers who provide community and charitable services that support veterans will also be eligible. Hiring veterans isn't just the right thing to do because it is morally and ethically right; it makes good business sense, and our folks know that. The men and women who have served in our military have received invaluable training and experience that has proven to help them thrive in post-military employment. What they need is a foot in the door. Fortunately, we have been seeing encouraging trends in veterans' employment. Thanks to the hard work of DOL VETS, combined with efforts within the private sector and Federal and State governments, the veterans' unemployment rate in January of 2017 was 4.5 percent, which is lower than the national average. We also know that the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans remains unacceptably high at 8 percent. We must remain vigilant to make sure that the men and women who signed up to defend our Nation enjoy opportunities for growth when they return home. The HIRE Vets Medallion Program represents an additional incentive for employers to hire and retain veterans, which is something we can all get behind. Again, I thank Colonel Cook for offering this bipartisan legislation. Thank you to the vice chairman for bringing this up and throwing his support behind it. I am certainly proud to stand in support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard), who still serves this Nation in uniform.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 244, as amended. 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, too, rise in support of H.R. 947, the Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment Act, or BRAVE Act. I thank the vice chairman for his kind words on this bill, and I especially would like to thank the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice), an unwavering advocate of our veterans and author of this smart piece of legislation. Both parties agree it is unacceptable that men and women returning home from our most recent conflicts don't have good, reliable jobs waiting for them. We can start right here in the Federal Government. The VA establishes long-term contracts with private companies for medical equipment, construction, supplies, services, and more. Currently, the VA gives preferences to veteran-owned small businesses. That is great. What this piece of legislation does is expand this contracting preference to allow the VA Secretary to give a preference to companies that actively search out and employ veterans, a policy that would incentivize companies to even hire more veterans. This is already a smart approach for those companies because veterans bring to a job the skills they have learned over the years and make the company even stronger. This bipartisan piece of legislation adds no cost to the taxpayers. It allows for debarment of any company that knowingly misrepresents its portion of veteran employees in order to receive the contracting preference. The BRAVE Act represents a win-win for the private sector, the Federal Government, and, most importantly, for our veterans. Again, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice), who will tell us a little more about this in a few moments, and Chairman Roe of Tennessee and Vice Chairman Bilirakis for continuing to bring good pieces of veterans legislation to the floor. We are grateful for that. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice), the author, the lead sponsor of this piece of legislation, a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee since coming to Congress, and a fierce advocate for those warriors.

Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on my side. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 974. I yield back the balance of my time.