[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5668-H5671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CHIROPRACTIC CARE AVAILABLE TO ALL VETERANS ACT

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1470) to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health 
Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 to require the provision of 
chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of 
Veterans Affairs medical centers.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1470

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Chiropractic Care Available 
     to All Veterans Act''.

     SEC. 2. PROGRAM FOR PROVISION OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE AND 
                   SERVICES TO VETERANS.

       Section 204(c) of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health 
     Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 (38 U.S.C. 1710 note) 
     is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The program''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) The program shall be carried out at not fewer than 75 
     medical centers by not later than December 31, 2009, and at 
     all medical centers by not later than December 31, 2011.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  We are continuing with a packet of seven bills from the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee that is really a thank-you in prelude to Memorial 
Day, a thank-you to our Nation's veterans. Memorial Day is a tribute to 
those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
  What we are saying is we're honoring them and all our veterans who 
are living with us in the United States. And as I said earlier, no 
matter where we are on the current debate on the war in Iraq, we are 
united in saying that every young woman, every young man who returns 
from that battle gets all the care, the attention, the love, the honor, 
the dignity that a grateful Nation can bestow. And that's what we are 
saying in these bills today.
  We have already passed a bill which extends from 2 years to 5 years 
the ability of any returning servicemember in combat to access the VA 
health care system. Two years was not sufficient for those who might 
have brain injuries, who might have PTSD, posttraumatic stress 
disorder. These are, in many cases, hidden diseases. You don't know 
that you have it. A doctor may not diagnose it at first, and so as time 
goes by, you may feel the need to access the VA health care system. So 
we have extended that from 2 years to 5 years.
  In addition, we have passed a new outreach program to meet especially 
the needs of rural veterans, and we will continue this package in the 
hour ahead.
  Veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should 
be able to depend on medical services that they want being available in 
the system of health care that was built to take care of them and their 
unique needs.
  For those returning veterans seeking care in a VA health care system, 
we know that the most common health problems are under the category of 
musculoskeletal ailments, principally joint and back disorders. We hear 
a lot about brain injury and PTSD, and those we have to give a lot of 
resources to, but 42 percent of veterans coming to the health care 
system have been presented to the VA with the needs of joint and back 
disorders.
  This bill, the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act, 
requires

[[Page H5669]]

that chiropractic services be made available in not fewer than 75 VA 
medical centers by the end of December 2009 and all the health care 
centers by the end of 2011.
  Undoubtedly the returning servicemembers will be able to benefit from 
this care. I speak from experience as I have had chiropractic care a 
good part of my life. I am confident that with expansion of these 
services within VA, many veterans will be able to find relief from 
their pain.
  Since the creation of the VA health care system, the Nation's doctors 
of chiropractic have been kept outside and all but prevented from 
providing proven, cost-effective and needed care to veterans. So we are 
grateful that access is becoming wider and wider.
  The support for VA chiropractic service is bipartisan. Former 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi released a policy 
directive before his departure several years ago regarding the true and 
full integration of chiropractic care in the VA.
  Secretary Nicholson and I have developed a solid working 
relationship, and chiropractic care is an area where we will be working 
closely together. Both Republican and Democratic Members have supported 
the inclusion of chiropractic care in the VA.
  I have worked very closely with chiropractic patients, particularly 
our veterans, as well as with various associations dedicated to the 
profession such as the American Chiropractic Association.
  Veterans are returning home from combat expecting to receive needed 
services. Let us not disappoint them. Expansion of chiropractic 
services is the right thing to do, and it is the least we can do for 
our returning heroes.
  I urge support of H.R. 1470.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, there are thousands of veterans across this country who 
could benefit from additional medical care and treatment, and 
chiropractic care is one form of that care and treatment that we 
believe can be expanded to meet the health care needs of our Nation's 
veterans.
  It's an honor for me to be here today, just a few days in advance of 
Memorial Day, in support of legislation that I believe will benefit 
those veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, in the year 2002, I joined my colleagues in an effort to 
see that chiropractic care became a significant component of the VA 
health care delivery system, and we have made progress in that regard. 
And that program has been implemented, but as the chairman indicated, 
as the gentleman from California indicated, it's only available in a 
small number of hospitals across the country.
  This legislation takes what was a very good idea in 2002 and 2003 and 
expands it to make certain that, over time, all veterans in this 
country can access chiropractic care.
  A recent VA study indicates that the demand for attention to back 
pain is only increasing, and we know that chiropractic care can address 
those issues. Numerous studies have demonstrated that chiropractic care 
is an effective therapy and would be an effective approach to low back 
pain, spasms, and other maladies suffered by not only all Americans but 
by our veterans in particular.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, this is a piece of legislation that I think will 
benefit all veterans across the country, widely supported by those 
veterans service organizations who speak here in our Nation's Capitol 
on behalf of veterans. The Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, the Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, and the 
Paralyzed Veterans of America all speak in favor of passage H.R. 1470.
  Mr. Speaker, I come from a congressional district in which access to 
health care is a huge issue for all of my citizens. Long distances to 
travel, attraction of health care providers to rural communities is a 
challenging task and the more we can expand the number of providers, 
the type of care that can be provided, the more likely it is that 
veterans who live in my district and rural America will have access to 
that care.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I'm here on behalf of the veterans of America. I'm 
here on behalf of members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee to urge my 
colleagues to approve H.R. 1470, the Chiropractic Care Available to All 
Veterans Act.
  I thank the gentleman from California for his encouragement of the 
passage of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin).
  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, 
and I do rise in strong support today of H.R. 1470.
  I want to thank Chairman Filner for introducing this important bill 
and for his efforts to advance it through committee. I also would like 
to thank Ranking Member Buyer and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michaud 
for their work and support in moving the bill through each step in the 
committee process.
  Chiropractic care has been shown to be a valuable and cost-effective 
health care approach, which benefits millions of Americans. Passage of 
this bill is an important step in our efforts to broaden veterans 
access and options for health care services.
  Currently the VA is only required to provide chiropractic services on 
a limited basis to veterans in each geographic service area. For 
veterans in rural parts of the country, as Mr. Moran was explaining, 
whether it's in Kansas or my home State of South Dakota, limited access 
to chiropractic care has forced many veterans to either drive several 
hours to a VA medical center that offers chiropractic services, or to 
not receive the chiropractic care that they need.
  So it's important that veterans be granted the same health care 
options as the rest of the American population, including the 
availability of chiropractic services.
  I look forward to continue working with my colleagues on the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee to provide veterans with chiropractic and 
other health care services that they've earned and deserve.
  I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 1470.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the balance of my time? 
How much time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Kansas has 17 minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 15 minutes to the gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), former chairman of the committee and the 
ranking member.
  Mr. BUYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to thank 
also not only you but also in particular Ms. Herseth Sandlin and Mr. 
Michaud for their work on this bill.
  I'm pleased to support H.R. 1470, the Chiropractic Care Available to 
All Veterans Act, that would require a phased implementation to provide 
chiropractic care in all VA medical centers by December 31, 2011.
  Under a policy guidance that I gave under the House Republican 
alternative budget resolution for fiscal year 2008, we provided an 
additional $100 million for veterans medical services to support the 
hiring of doctors of chiropractic care at all 155 VA medical centers. I 
have history dating back to the 106th Congress for supporting 
chiropractic care.
  The Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services 
Committee worked to include chiropractic care services as a benefit in 
the military health facilities and through TRICARE.
  VA is currently offering chiropractic care in 30 VA medical centers 
and provides chiropractic care on a fee-for-service basis for veterans 
who are geographically distant from a VA medical facility. In fiscal 
year 2006, the VA paid over $1 million to fee-based chiropractic 
providers to treat roughly 3,000 veterans, and I support the passage of 
this bill.
  I would also note, Mr. Speaker, that I'm very concerned because the 
chairman just spoke that the reason, words to the effect, that he's 
brought these seven bills to the floor is to represent what a grateful 
Nation bestows. But what I'm concerned about the seven bills being 
considered today under the suspension of the rules, only one, H.R. 
2199, is being considered with a bill report having been filed.

[[Page H5670]]

  I believe this is yet another way in which the majority of this 
Veterans' Affairs Committee is breaking with past practices. When you 
do not file a report with a bill that comes to the floor, you are 
essentially denying Members of the minority the opportunity to file 
supplemental, minority and additional views on legislation under House 
rule XI, clause 2(i).
  Since the time of Sonny Montgomery, the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs has filed bill reports with every veterans bill other than 
resolutions such as H. Res. 392 or a facility naming bill; which is 
what I'm asking for Mr. Filner to do to honor the recipient of the 
Medal of Honor with regard to the naming of the VA medical center in 
Albuquerque, NM, and the minority has thus had the opportunity to file 
views.
  The veterans bills being considered by the House today, H.R. 67, H.R. 
1660, H.R. 612, H.R. 1470 and H.R. 2239, were all ordered favorably 
reported, with the exception of H.R. 1470, ordered reported from the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs with amendments. However, the chairman 
of the Veterans' Affairs has filed no bill with reports on any of them. 
Not only does this deprive the minority of the opportunity to file 
views, but it deprives veterans and the rest of the interested public 
from having important legislative history which discusses the 
background of legislation and explains the committee's intent as well 
as the amendments.

                              {time}  1700

  All of this is compounded by the fact that most of these bills were 
ordered reported without hearings that would have provided an 
historical record for legislation. The majority also has not bothered 
to obtain the position of the administration on most of these bills.
  There is no reason for taking such shortcuts. I would have filed 
additional views on H.R. 1660, in particular, if the opportunity had 
been available. These are not expedited pieces of legislation involving 
an emergency situation. There has been ample time to follow the 
customary regular order and do that which is right.
  We will now be at a disadvantage when conferring with the Senate. I 
fully expect the House to pass these bills overwhelmingly, but it is 
not a good way to legislate on behalf of our Nation's veterans.
  I understand all the committees operate under the suspension of the 
rules to bring legislation to the floor. I wish that there were a 
collegial relationship between the chairman and the ranking member. It 
does not exist, unfortunately.
  If, in fact, he would confer and work with us, we wouldn't have to 
work these things out or make an attempt to work these things out on 
the House floor.
  Once again, I will make an attempt, and I will ask Chairman Filner if 
he would call up Heather Wilson's bill and allow us, when we return 
after the Memorial Day break, to have Heather Wilson's bill, H.R. 1474, 
brought to the House floor under the suspensions.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield to you.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Capuano). Does the gentleman from 
Indiana yield for a parliamentary inquiry?
  Mr. BUYER. I would yield to the chairman for a parliamentary inquiry 
and respond to the question.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, is it a requirement that committees have to 
file reports with legislation that is very straightforward?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The motion to suspend the rules obviates any 
point of order on such issues.
  Mr. FILNER. I thank you, and I hope the ranking member heard that.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, once again, reclaiming my time, the American 
people get to see the abuse of power that I have to deal with.
  Rather than working collegially with us, with regard to filing 
reports, it's just, well, we don't have to do it. We'll just bring it 
to the floor. It doesn't matter. Really? Is that how we're going to 
legislate? We're just going to be sloppy about the Nation's business? I 
don't think that's a proper way of paying respect to our Nation's 
veterans, and it's very unfortunate.
  I yield to my colleague, the chairman of the committee, to respond to 
my question that will you permit, under the suspension of the rules, to 
consider H.R. 474 when we return after Memorial Day break so that we 
may honor Raymond Jerry Murphy and rename the Albuquerque VA Medical 
Center after him.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield to you.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman from Indiana yield for a 
parliamentary inquiry?
  Mr. BUYER. I do not yield for a parliamentary inquiry. I think the 
purpose of my yielding to the chairman was to get a good response, 
whereby we have criteria, before the committee, with regard to how we 
name VA medical centers.
  There is an individual, all the criteria have been satisfied, and I 
asked a very simple question of the chairman, if he would suspend the 
rules and bring it to the floor. I have written him twice. He doesn't 
respond to the letters. It has passed the Senate. A bill lays upon the 
desk, and I asked a very simple question.
  All he wants to do is a parliamentary inquiry. So maybe we will be 
enlightened if I let him do a parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield to you for a parliamentary inquiry.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, am I required to engage in political debate 
with the ranking member when we are discussing a bill very important to 
veterans?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has not stated a point of 
parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. FILNER. I would inform the ranking member that I am not going to 
respond to political debate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Indiana has the time.
  Mr. BUYER. Thank you. I would yield back to the gentleman, since he 
did not address a parliamentary inquiry during his question. I yield to 
him, if you would like to have a statement.
  Mr. FILNER. It's your time.
  Mr. BUYER. Pardon? I yield to the chairman.
  Well, this is pretty interesting. It's pretty hard to run the 
Nation's business if the chairman will not even respond to somebody on 
the House floor.
  It's also very disappointing if, in fact, this is the way we are 
supposed to honor America's veterans whereby the chairman of the 
majority party is acting like this.
  I suppose what I should do is work with my good friend Mr. Michaud, 
who is the chairman of the Health Subcommittee, who has the ability to 
call this bill up and to mark this bill up. Obviously, even though he 
were to mark this up in the subcommittee, it would still be held at the 
full committee, if the chairman wants to continue to play politics.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may need to the 
gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown), who has now for 15 years 
fought side by side with me on behalf of our Nation's veterans. She is 
a fighter, and we are proud of her. You have the floor, Ms. Brown.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. First of all, let me thank Chairman 
Filner for shepherding the bills that we have here on the floor, for 
bringing these bills to the floor on this date.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been on Veterans' Affairs for 15 years, and as we 
approach Memorial Day, we do it to honor our veterans. The entire time 
I have been proud to be on this committee, because it is what we do for 
our veterans.
  One of the things, Mr. Buyer, that I have enjoyed about serving on 
this committee is that it has always been bipartisan. We have always 
worked together for the veterans in this country, and we need to 
continue to do that.
  As we move into this Memorial Day, and I think about what I have to 
do next Monday, when I go home, to face those families, we need to be 
honoring them today here on the floor of the House of Representatives.
  If we have any personal matters, it needs to be taken up at that 
particular time and not here on the floor of the House of 
Representatives.
  Earlier today I had the privilege of joining the Congressional 
Women's Caucus at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at 
Arlington

[[Page H5671]]

National Cemetery. Earlier today we honored four members of the United 
States Armed Forces, and it was my privilege to be there. The late 
Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, a key member in the Women's 
Caucus, was instrumental in organizing this year's celebration.
  It wasn't until 1971 that the last Monday in May became the official 
national holiday, as we know today, as Memorial Day. The day itself was 
born from the tragedy of the Civil War when soldiers and family members 
in the North and the South decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with 
flowers.
  In 1868, seeking to formalize this touching tribute, General John 
Logan, Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued 
General Order Number 11 designating May 30, 1868, as Decoration Day, 
for the purpose of laying flowers and decorating graves of those who 
died in the defense of their country, our great country.
  All together, these bills move benefits for veterans into the 21st 
century. From extending the eligible period for health care for combat 
service in the Persian Gulf to treating of trauma, brain injury, 
vocational rehabilitation benefits, chiropractic benefits and outreach 
activities at the VA, finally to deal with the final resting place for 
those who have sacrificed for the freedom of this Nation, these bills 
and this House honor our Nation's veterans.
  I support all of these bills, and I urge my colleagues to support 
them as well. Let us all honor the veterans who have done so much for 
us and these families as we go into Memorial Day.
  God bless America.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include extraneous material on H.R. 1470.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1470.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

                          ____________________