Brad Wenstrup

Mr. WENSTRUP

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

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to insert any extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 1367.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1367, to improve the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain employees. VA's mission of honoring and serving our Nation's veterans is second to none in the Federal Government, and a high-quality, high-performing workforce is key to VA's ability to successfully execute on that mission. H.R. 1367 contains a number of provisions that would strengthen VA's ability to identify staffing shortages, recruit employees to fill vacant positions, quickly onboard new hires, and retain high-performing workers across the country. It also contains provisions that would improve leadership and accountability throughout VA and increase the number of veterans in the Federal workforce. To assist VA in identifying and addressing local staffing deficiencies, this bill would modify the annual determination of staffing shortages to include five clinical occupations and five nonclinical occupations for each VA medical center. Staffing needs can vary significantly from facility to facility, even within the same State, and create a variety of delays, backlogs, and other challenges for veterans. This provision would allow VA to use this existing reporting tool, which dates back to the 2014 Choice Act, to target a total of 10 occupations at each VA medical center and use VA's existing direct hire authority to expeditiously address shortages for those occupations. To increase leadership development opportunities for emerging leaders and encourage the dissemination of best practices between and among VA and private sector, the bill would establish an executive management program to allow eligible VA and private sector employees the opportunity to take 1-year fellowship positions in either comparable private sector entities or VA, respectively. This idea was brought to us by a veteran participating in the joint Veterans of Foreign Wars- Student Veterans of America legislative fellowship program and would mirror a successful fellowship model used by the White House and the State Department. To increase accountability for senior VA decisionmakers, the bill would require annual performance plans for VA political appointees, similar to the annual performance plans that are required for Senior Executive Service employees. Like SES employees, political appointees perform at the very highest levels and play critical roles in setting and achieving high profile policies and priorities. It is only appropriate that they too be held accountable for their performance. To incentivize the hiring of veterans across the Federal Government, the bill would change the service requirement for reservists and guardsmen to be eligible for veterans' preference from 180 days of consecutive Active-Duty service to 180 days of cumulative Active-Duty service, and expand those considered preference eligible to include all retired servicemembers. Veterans gain a variety of skills during their time in uniform and are often uniquely suited to Federal employment. In recognition of this, some form of veterans' preference has been in place since the Civil War. By modernizing this important benefit today, we can bring needed skill sets to the Federal workforce and promote employment opportunities for veterans, a win-win if there ever was one. To encourage former VA employees who left VA service to gain relevant education or experience and then return to the VA, the bill would allow the VA to noncompetitively reappoint a former employee to a position not more than 1 grade higher than their former position. I believe we must do everything possible to encourage former employees to come back and work at the VA and reward them for furthering themselves and using their new skills to benefit veterans. In order to be eligible for reappointment under this authority, the former employee must have voluntarily, within the prior 2 years, maintained a satisfactory performance record while at the VA, and retained any necessary licensures or credentials. To assist the VA in identifying and prioritizing vacancies, the bill would require the VA to establish a recruiting database listing each vacant position that the VA determines is critical to the VA's mission, is difficult to fill, or both. Also, the bill would authorize and encourage the VA to track qualified applicants for vacant positions and use the recruiting database and the qualified applicant pool to quickly fill vacancies that have gone unfilled for a prolonged time. To ensure the VA human resources professionals have a thorough understanding of the VA's unique hiring authorities, the bill would require Veterans Health Administration HR employees to receive regular, ongoing training. The VA healthcare system benefits from direct hiring authorities for clinical personnel under title 38, United States Code. However, these hiring authorities are unique to the VA and can be complex and difficult for HR employees to understand and work with, which increases the likelihood that those authorities go underused and HR professionals experience burnout. This provision would support those professionals in their important work while ensuring that veterans benefit as much as possible from the special hiring authorities that Congress has granted the VA in statute. To encourage highly skilled employees wishing to advance in their career at the VA without taking on a management role, this bill would require the VA to establish a promotional track for technical experts that does not require transition to a managerial position. This is a commonsense provision that would increase the VA's ability to retain employees in highly technical positions who want to remain at the VA and continue moving forward in their careers, but are either uninterested in or ill-suited to becoming a manager. To increase the understanding of the VA's succession planning efforts, the bill would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on succession planning at each VA medical facility, as well as within the Veterans Benefits Administration and the National Cemetery Administration. Earlier this week, the VA confirmed that 80 percent of current Veterans Integrated Service Network directors and 25 percent of current VA Medical Center directors are eligible to retire. Last year, the VA testified that it can take more than 6 months and multiple reannouncements to fill these important positions in both rural and major metropolitan areas. Effective succession planning is critical to ensuring stable leadership and to identifying and developing emerging leaders who are ready, willing, and able to step up when existing directors or other managers retire or depart. I look forward to reviewing the results of GAO's work to see what further improvements can be made in this area. To improve recruitment and retention of younger employees, the bill would require the VA to allow for excepted service appointments leading to conversion to career or career-conditional employment for students and recent graduates. VA's existing workforce is aging and, as I mentioned just a moment ago, increasingly retirement-eligible. Unfortunately, the VA has historically performed poorly in comparison to other Federal agencies when it comes to hiring younger employees, which could put the VA's future at risk. I am hopeful that this provision will increase the VA's ability to build a pipeline of young talent. Finally, to increase the VA's understanding of why departing employees choose to leave the VA and, in turn, how the VA could improve in order to retain other employees, this bill would require the VA to develop and deploy a standardized, anonymous exit survey process. The VA has an existing survey process but it is underutilized, with just 30 percent of all clinical employees completing it prior to their departure over the last 5 years, according to a GAO report issued last year. Factors that contribute to employees voluntarily leaving VA service cannot be addressed unless they are identified, and this provision would help us do that. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the future of the VA, our Nation's second largest bureaucracy, depends on the VA's ability to effectively and efficiently recruit and retain highly qualified and motivated employees in towns and cities across this country. In an increasingly competitive market with an increasingly retirement-eligible workforce, the stakes are simply too high for the VA to continue to struggle to hire the employees it needs. While more remains to be done to simplify and shorten the VA's hiring process and strengthen the VA's ability to bring the very best professionals onboard to serve our veterans, H.R. 1367 is the first step to ensuring a sufficient VA workforce is available to veterans for generations to come. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Washington, DC, March 10, 2017. Hon. David P. Roe, Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 1367, ``to improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and for other purposes.'' As you know, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs received an original referral and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform a secondary referral when the bill was introduced on March 6, 2017, I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House of Representatives in an expeditious manner, and accordingly, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will forego action on the bill. The Committee takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 1367 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. Further, I request your support for the appointment of conferees from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform during any House-Senate conference convened on this or related legislation. Finally, I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the bill report filed by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, as well as in the Congressional Record during floor consideration, to memorialize our understanding. Sincerely, Jason Chaffetz, Chairman.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to take a second here to thank the ranking member for his hard work and putting forth many of the ideas that are in this bill and working with us, and thank him for his service to our country in the military and the high rank that he achieved, and bringing those experiences to us. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz).

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Poliquin), who has been a very vocal supporter of our veterans every step of the way.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, once again, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 1367, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Richard Blankenship of Hillsboro, Ohio. Richard's time here on earth will be remembered by many as serving both his community, and his country. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served his country with dedication. And that dedication and passion was felt in the Cincinnati and Hillsboro communities, where Richard served in a number of different roles, influencing the lives of many. From the Cincinnati Bengals, to the Southern State Community College, to East Clinton High School, where he served as both a coach and a teacher. At Finneytown Local Schools, where he taught and held various coaching positions, teaching students important lessons of teamwork and leadership. When Richard retired from teaching in Finneytown in 2003, he said ``I will miss being with students and parents, but it's time to hang up my gym shoes.'' Richard, our communities are better for having you here, teaching our children, students, and those around you, and changing their lives for the better. My thoughts are with the Blankenship family.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, a member of the Ohio Second District community passed away this week, and our Nation lost a hero. Charles Geraci was a beloved resident of Norwood, Ohio. He was known as a husband of 70\1/2\ years, grandfather to 31, and a great- grandfather to 16. But he was also an American hero. Charles enlisted in the Army on December 10, 1942, and, after basic training, was stationed in England in 1943. Just a few months later Charles was in the second wave at Omaha Beach in Normandy, where he was wounded while storming the beaches. After recovering and being sent back to his unit, Charles was wounded by shrapnel and then shot again during combat. He was in Normandy for only 5 months and credits his survival to God. While his courage earned him three Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star Award, Charles refers to his service during World War II with a deep humility that defines the Greatest Generation. He said: ``We were there to do the job, and we did it. And I came back.'' Our country can never repay Charles for his service and sacrifice, but we can stand as a grateful nation to honor his life and legacy with our deepest respect. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Helen, and the rest of the Geraci family. Truly, it is men and women like Charles Geraci whom we can credit for the gift of freedom that we are able to pass along to our children and grandchildren. They protected and preserved that gift with their very lives. For that, we remain eternally grateful.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. I appreciate that, and I thank you for yielding and thank you for taking the charge on this this evening to share this message. Mr. Speaker, first, do no harm. Do no harm. These are three short words, but, to physicians, they represent a sacred charge--three short words that now hang in the balance here in the District of Columbia after the D.C. Council passed the Death with Dignity Act legalizing physician-assisted suicide in the Nation's Capital. In authorizing doctors to violate the Hippocratic oath of ``do no harm,'' physician-assisted suicide undermines a key safeguard that protects our Nation's most vulnerable citizens: the disabled, the sick, the poor--a key safeguard that helps to ensure our loved ones receive the best medical care when they need it the most. Instead of simply providing end-of-life comfort and a potential for cure, D.C.'s new law is poised to do more harm than good. This act leaves patients unprotected, doctors unaccountable, and our most vulnerable citizens at risk of having fewer medical options at their disposal rather than having more. It is too broad. This act allows adults diagnosed with a terminal disease having less than 6 months to live to receive a prescription for medication to end their life on their own--alone. There are concerns that the definition of ``terminal disease'' is too broad since most doctors will admit that accurately predicting life expectancy is almost impossible; and it is. There are many conditions such as diabetes or HIV--they are considered incurable or irreversible, and they are terminal if left untreated. There are many diseases that are terminal if left untreated, but curable if treated. This bill fails to accurately protect patients from coercion or abuse. Despite the fact that depression is commonly associated with a patient seeking assisted suicide, D.C.'s legislation does not make screening for mental illness mandatory. It also has no safeguard against pressure that family members or heirs might exert on a patient to choose suicide. It leaves doctors unaccountable. Compliance with the bill's limited safeguards is difficult to track because the bill directs doctors not to place the actual cause and manner of death on the death certificate. It doesn't say ``suicide.'' The report requirements in the bill are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Perhaps most concerning of all, once the prescription for lethal medication is filled, oversight is nonexistent. There is no requirement to ensure that the prescription was used as intended. This could limit care. Under the new law, patients may end up with fewer options, not more options. D.C. residents who are not able to pay for health care out of pocket may find their options limited when facing a new diagnosis, suffering from a chronic illness, facing a disability, or struggling with mental illness. For certain medical conditions, assisted suicide could become the cheapest option. Ultimately, whatever its intentions, D.C.'s new law puts patients at risk and could limit their access to high-quality health care. It could limit their access to cures. It prioritizes cost over compassion, cost over care. We have weighed this legislation. We have looked at it seriously, and we find it very wanting. D.C. residents deserve better. Twenty-two years ago, my sister was diagnosed with an incurable cancer, and she had very little time to live. She was, at one point, given the option of a bone marrow transparent, and her insurance said: It is experimental. We don't cover it. We had to fight that, and we were going to do it anyway. It is 22 years later. She survived. She is doing well. She is married and has two children, but somebody was telling her: It is not worth it. This affects people with disabilities. This affects the poor. This attitude reminds me of a comment from the movie, ``It's a Wonderful Life'' when Mr. Potter says to George Bailey: ``George, you're worth more dead than alive.'' That is not who we are, folks. In this bill, there is no verification or validation that the prescription was taken as intended, for the person intended, or even taken at all. There is no witness necessary, no provider to address any complications that may occur when taking the medications, no assurance that it is not misused or used on someone else, and no actual cause of death is reported. In this, they say: ``Actions taken in accordance with this act do not constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide.'' Oh, really? Maybe they should look up the definitions of those words. The definition of homicide is the killing of one person by another whether intended or not. The definition of suicide is the act of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally. This bill is bad for the people of D.C. This is bad for America. This is not who we are. This is not who we are as a compassionate, caring group of Americans--especially caregivers, especially doctors. We can do better, and we all need to stand up against this.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of providing a waiver permitting the nomination of General James Mattis to the Office of Secretary of Defense. General Mattis is an exceptional warrior, strategist, and leader. At a time in which the United States faces an increasingly diverse array of threats around the globe, his unique skill set and decades of experience render him worthy of this exceptional legislation. Civilian control of the military is a foundational underpinning of our system of government, and it is one of General Mattis' nomination strengths, not weaknesses. Just as every one is a civilian before they join the military, they return to civilian life when they leave it. Since becoming a civilian 3\1/2\ years ago, General Mattis has thoughtfully analyzed the civilian-military relationship, coediting an analysis of the state of civilian-military relations today. This work includes recommendations that aim to, in his words: ``Ensure our military are braided tightly to our broader society in a manner that will keep alive our experiment in democracy.'' Throughout his distinguished career, General Mattis has demonstrated a mastery of all aspects of American leadership on the global stage. He has a keen grasp of the value of diplomacy and has been a strong supporter of the State Department and its valuable mission. Throughout his decades of service, he has accumulated a deep understanding of the importance of deterrence and how a well-guarded peace can prevent conflict before it begins. As a seasoned strategic thinker, he has been an incisive critic of current and serious, long- term planning for American national security that hasn't really existed. General Mattis knows firsthand the reality of combat and the stakes involved in any decision to use military force. The United States needs a Secretary of Defense equipped to use every tool necessary to defend our Nation and defeat our adversaries. Because of General Mattis' unique capabilities to address the multitude of threats our country faces today, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Cincinnati St. Xavier High School golf team on their state championship win this fall 2016 season. With skill and precision, the Bombers' golf team won its second consecutive state championship, totaling 5 wins in team history. While mostly considered an individual sport, the golf team exemplified St. X teamwork and brotherhood to win a high pressure, one- round championship game on the Ohio State University Golf Course. I would like to congratulate the players and Coach Alex Kepley on another win for the St. X Bombers and for representing St. X and our community well during their season. It has been quite a season for Cincinnati sports, and St. Xavier has made its mark. Go Bombers.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Highland County Commissioner Tom Horst on a distinguished career serving the residents of Highland County and Southern Ohio. Tom has served our community for 40 years in a multitude of ways. Tom has served in the Lynchburg and Hillsboro Police Departments and as Highland County Sheriff; he worked for the Ohio Attorney General in the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and he has served as Highland County Commissioner. In all aspects of his service, Tom has left an incredibly positive impact in our community. Highland County is truly a better place because of Tom Horst and his dedication and commitment to making it a better and safer place to live. We are extremely fortunate to have had Tom's commitment and service in our community, and I wish him a very happy retirement.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Ross County Commissioner Jim Caldwell on a distinguished career serving the residents of Ross County and southern Ohio. Jim has served as Ross County Commissioner since 1977, making him the longest serving County Commissioner in the State of Ohio. During his 39 year tenure of serving our community, he has made an incredibly positive impact, serving in nearly every capacity imaginable. From teaching our youth, to guiding our communities' finances, to leading the efforts of redevelopment and revitalization, Ross County is a better place because of Jim Caldwell. We are certainly lucky to have had Jim's commitment and service in our community, and I wish him a very happy retirement.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Cincinnati St. Xavier High School water polo team on their state championship win this fall 2016 season. With hard work and dedication, the Bombers' water polo team won their second consecutive state championship, totaling three total state championship wins. But what makes this win truly meaningful is what the water polo team did with its win. This state championship was dedicated to a hero who cannot be with us here today. The St. X water polo team dedicated its hard earned win to Charles Keating IV, a Navy SEAL who died in May in Iraq while fighting ISIS and protecting all of us here at home. Mr. Keating's father and grandfather were both outstanding swimmers and graduates of St. Xavier High School. St. Xavier's dedication of its win in memory of Charles Keating exemplifies the spirit and strength of the St. X community and what it stands for. On behalf of all St. X alumni and friends, I congratulate the St. Xavier Water Polo team on incredibly hard work and dedication. You have certainly embodied what it means to be a part of the Long Blue Line. Go Bombers.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Clermont County Sheriff A.J. ``Tim'' Rodenberg on a distinguished career serving the residents of Clermont County and southern Ohio. With over 25 years of law enforcement experience, including leadership as the sheriff and assistant prosecuting attorney, Tim's involvement and acumen has been invaluable in helping make Clermont County a safe place to live and work. A great American committed to service, Tim served on active duty as an officer with the U.S. Marines, during which he was appointed to the Commanding General's Honor List for outstanding academic and leadership performance. Originally elected sheriff in 1997, Tim has effectively guided the Clermont County Sheriff's office into the 21st Century. He has been involved in everything from the Senior Visitation Program, a program that pairs deputies with senior citizens in the community, to the Summer Junior Police Academy, an introduction into police and emergency service work for middle and high school students. Tim has worked tirelessly to improve Clermont County over the years, devoted to the big picture and listening to the people he serves without expectation. Tim also serves as a state certified police and corrections academy instructor and has taught criminal justice and legal courses at four Greater Cincinnati colleges and universities. As he prepares to retire, I commend him for his hard work and leadership to make southern Ohio a better place. Our community is lucky to have someone so committed to service. Thank you Tim, and God bless you.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, December 2, my alma mater, St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, beat the odds in a true underdog story and won the Ohio high school Division I football State championship. They join the St. Xavier water polo team as State champs this year as well. Through a tough regular season schedule, the St. X Bombers went into the final regular season game with a record of 4 and 5, needing one more win to make it to the playoffs, and they were losing at halftime. They won and went on to win five more times, ultimately beating a tough Cleveland Saint Ignatius team, in front of 13,000 people at Ohio Stadium, to win the State championship. In one of the most thrilling high school football games, St. X won 27-20 in double overtime. In fact, three of the five playoff victories were won in overtime. In a historic year, St. X became the first team in Ohio high school athletic history to lose five regular season games and then go on to win the State championship. The 2016 football season can teach us all something about perseverance and never giving up. I would like to congratulate the St. Xavier players, Coach Steve Specht, and his staff, for their hard work and dedication. This win adds to a long history of sportsmanship and commitment on the field at St. Xavier High School. Go Bombers.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our veterans, I rise today in support of H.R. 6416. This bill would expand benefits and provide improvements to help America's greatest asset: our veterans and their families. I am especially pleased to support sections in the fourth and fifth titles. All but a few of those provisions passed through the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, which I am honored to chair with Ranking Member Takano. Seven provisions from legislation that I had the honor to author were also included in H.R. 6416. When enacted, these provisions would streamline and simplify how schools and training programs are approved for the GI bill, improve disabled veterans' access to services under the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program, survey GI bill users about their experience with the VA and their use of the post-9/11 GI bill, provide conditions for expanded instate tuition requirements for dependents of Active-Duty servicemembers, require the Department of Labor to conduct a longitudinal study to track long-term outcomes of veterans who have used DOL-sponsored employment services, and expand the amount of time that a surviving spouse can use post-9/11 GI bill benefits under the Fry Scholarship. The last GI bill provision is estimated to help nearly 2,000 surviving spouses that use the post-9/11 GI bill to go back to school. Our veterans' families will be better off because of this bill. I support this bill and the efforts of Dr. Roe, Chairman Miller, and others. At the same time, I know that we will continue to work hard for our veterans. In the House, we crafted and passed many important issue initiatives that were not in the final bill. As the 115th Congress approaches, I ask my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to reaffirm their commitment to put the interests of our veterans first, and I look forward to continuing that work. I am proud of my colleagues on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. We have crafted good, bipartisan policies. We have worked hard on behalf of our Nation's veterans. We will continue to do so. I am also grateful for the staff of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I want to especially thank my own staff on the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee for their expertise and untiring work on behalf of our veterans. A special thanks goes to Chairman Miller. His leadership and friendship here in the House will certainly be missed. I look forward to Dr. Roe's leadership. Once again, I support H.R. 6416, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 3076, the Charles Duncan Buried with Honor Act. This bill will have a direct and personal impact on the families of many of our veterans. I am pleased that it is being considered today, and I was proud to sponsor the House companion bill, H.R. 6114. Under current law, if a veteran dies without the resources to pay for a casket, the VA will provide one, but only as long as the veteran is buried in a national cemetery. That means that, in my district and throughout the country, the families in need of this service may be transported to a national cemetery, which is often far from home and far from family. This has caused heartache for many families in my district in Ohio and across the country. It can mean that their loved ones must be buried nowhere near their homes. It can prevent friends and family from attending the funerals or from regularly visiting the grave sites. S. 3076 would amend current law to allow veterans who receive caskets that are purchased by the VA to be buried at a State or a tribal cemetery for which the VA has provided a grant. By expanding the burial options available to veterans, we can better ensure that they are laid to rest close to their loved ones. Let's provide this peace of mind to our veterans and their families. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference report to accompany S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. Congress has upheld its constitutional duty to ``provide for the common defense'' by passing the NDAA 55 years in a row, and I am looking forward to making this the 56th. This bipartisan bill contains a number of vitally important provisions to support our troops deployed overseas, stop the dangerous drawdown of the military, and begin rebuilding our force for the future. It increases the end strength of our Armed Forces, gives our troops a substantial pay raise, and maintains restrictions on the administration's ability to bring terrorist detainees from Guantanamo to U.S. soil. One provision I am particularly proud of is the Joint Trauma Education and Training Directorate. Too often we take for granted the readiness of our military healthcare teams, doctors, and surgeons when, in reality, their skills and knowledge are earned through work in grueling, dangerous conditions and must be maintained through frequent practice. The Joint Trauma Education and Training Directorate will support partnerships, allowing military trauma surgeons and physicians to embed within civilian trauma centers to treat critically injured patients, maintaining medical readiness and deployability for future armed conflicts. By connecting the Department of Defense with civilian hospitals, these partnerships will serve the needs of our military medical professionals and our local communities, to the benefit of the whole Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, as a lifelong Cincinnatian and a proud UC Bearcat, I wish to recognize Dr. Santa J. Ono and Ms. Gwendolyn Yip, respectively, President and First Lady of the University of Cincinnati, for their 4 years of dedication and commitment to the university. Under President Ono's leadership, the University of Cincinnati has transformed into a premier academic institution and a public research powerhouse. President Ono was primarily responsible for launching ``Creating Our Third Century,'' an initiative that maps out the university's priorities for the future. As part of this initiative, the University of Cincinnati has invested $100 million in academics, hiring 250 new faculty members over the past three years. They also executed an $86 million renovation of Nippert Stadium and constructed a new, eco- friendly residence hall--Morgens Hall--that received three different Design Awards from the American Institute of Architects. As the university itself continues to grow, so does its student population. For three consecutive years, the university has broken its enrollment records and has attained the largest enrollment in school history at 44,251 students. This spring alone, they awarded 6,445 degrees to 6,351 graduates. In 2013, the Washington Center recognized UC as the Public University of the Year, ``a shining example of how universities are taking the traditional curriculum model and incorporating study-away internship experiences that teach self awareness, community engagement, and life- long leadership skills.'' All of these accolades are a great testament to President Ono's leadership and his commitment to making UC the #HottestCollegeInAmerica. I'm sad to see him go, but I know that his charisma and vision will have a lasting impact on present and future Bearcats. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 3055) a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a dental insurance plan to veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Conscience Protection Act, which would prevent the Federal, State, and local government from discriminating against healthcare providers who choose not to participate in abortion. I am a cosponsor of this bill, and I stand before you today as a surgeon who has practiced for over two and half decades. I want to say clearly that no healthcare provider should be forced to participate in abortion or any medical or surgical procedure, for that matter, against their will. Doctors take an oath to do no harm. I took that oath myself. Health care is about protecting life, not taking life. Make no mistake about it, I am pro-life. Forcing healthcare providers to violate their conscience is a rejection of the individual liberty on which our Nation is built. And even more to make a point, what patient would want a doctor to perform a procedure--any procedure--that they don't feel comfortable with, for whatever reason they don't feel comfortable with it? This defies human reason. Enforcing it defies human freedom in this, the land of the free, or so we say. Healthcare providers are not owned by the government or any other entity. No American is owned by the government or any other entity. This protection is long overdue, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this crucial bill.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I recently came across a short poem called ``The Dash,'' and I'd like to submit the first few lines: I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning . . . to the end. He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time that they spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own, the cars . . . the house . . . the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash. Del Latta's dash represents a life dedicated to his fellow Ohioans and his fellow Americans. First as a state senator, and then later as a U.S. Congressman, Mr. Latta was a true public servant, a trait he passed on to his son, and my friend, Bob. I offer my prayers and condolences to Bob, and to his family, and I thank his father for spending his dash in service to our state and our country.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Army Reserve, I congratulate our chief, Lt. General Jeffrey Talley, on his retirement and thank him for 34 years of service to our country. Lt. General Talley truly exemplifies the Reserve motto, Twice the Citizen. After 30 years of military service, he returned to active duty in 2012 to lead the U.S. Army Reserve, a nod to his unparalleled leadership. Since his return in 2012, Lt. General Talley has led the Army Reserve through one of the most battle-tested and operational times in its history. His vast knowledge and experience has positively shaped the Reserve into a strong, fighting force ready to answer their country's call. Lt. General Talley will be greatly missed and long remembered. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.