[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8892-H8897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS' HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2007
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2874) to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain
improvements in the provision of health care to veterans, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows
H.R. 2874
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans'
Health Care Improvement Act of 2007''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Grants for support of therapeutic readjustment programs for
veterans.
Sec. 3. Transportation grants for rural veterans service organizations.
Sec. 4. Permanent treatment authority for participants in Department of
Defense chemical and biological testing conducted by
Deseret Test Center (including Project Shipboard Hazard
and Defense).
Sec. 5. Extension of expiring collections authorities.
Sec. 6. Readjustment and mental health services for Operation Enduring
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans.
Sec. 7. Expansion and extension of authority for program of referral
and counseling services for at-risk veterans
transitioning from certain institutions.
Sec. 8. Permanent authority for domiciliary services for homeless
veterans and enhancement of capacity of domiciliary care
programs for female veterans.
Sec. 9. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
income veteran families in permanent housing.
[[Page H8893]]
Sec. 10. Expansion of eligibility for dental care.
Sec. 11. Technical amendments.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR SUPPORT OF THERAPEUTIC READJUSTMENT
PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS.
(a) Grant Program.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 521
the following new section:
``Sec. 521A. Assistance to therapeutic readjustment programs
``(a) Grant Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may
make grants to qualified entities described in subsection (b)
to conduct workshop programs that have been shown to assist
in the therapeutic readjustment and rehabilitation of
participants to assist in the therapeutic readjustment of
covered veterans.
``(b) Qualified Entities.--In order to qualify for grant
assistance under subsection (a), a private nonprofit entity
must have, as determined by the Secretary, experience and
expertise in offering programs to assist in the therapeutic
readjustment of participants and that such programs will
likely assist covered veterans.
``(c) Amount of Grant; Use of Funds.--A grant under this
section shall not exceed $100,000 for any calendar year and
shall be used by the recipient exclusively for the benefit of
covered veterans.
``(d) Application.--An application for a grant under this
section shall include details regarding the extent and nature
of the proposed program, the therapeutic readjustment and
rehabilitation benefits expected to be achieved by
participants, and any other information the Secretary
determines may be necessary to assist the Secretary in
ensuring that covered veterans receive therapeutic
readjustment and rehabilitation benefits.
``(e) Covered Veterans.--For the purposes of this
subsection, a `covered veteran' is a veteran who served on
active duty in a theater of combat operations (as determined
by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense) during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War,
or in combat against a hostile force during a period of
hostilities (as defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this
title) after November 11, 1998, and who is discharged or
released from active military, naval, or air service on or
after September 11, 2001.
``(f) Reports.--Not later than 60 days after the last day
of a fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives a report detailing the number and amount of
grants made under this section during the previous fiscal
year, the total number of covered veterans participating in
workshop programs funded by such grants, a description of the
programs, and the therapeutic benefits to covered veterans of
participation in the various programs funded.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011
$2,000,000 to carry out this section.
``(h) Termination.--The authority of the Secretary to make
a grant under subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30,
2011.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 521 the following new item:
``521A. Assistance to therapeutic readjustment programs.''.
SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION GRANTS FOR RURAL VETERANS SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) Grant Program.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 1709. Grants for provision of transportation to
Department medical facilities for veterans in remote rural
areas
``(a) Grants Authorized.--(1) The Secretary shall establish
a grant program to provide innovative transportation options
to veterans in remote rural areas.
``(2) Grants awarded under this section may be used by
State veterans' service agencies, veterans service
organizations, and private nonprofit entities to assist
veterans in remote rural areas to travel to Department
medical facilities.
``(3) The amount of a grant under this section may not
exceed $50,000.
``(4) The recipient of a grant under this section shall not
be required to provide matching funds as a condition for
receiving such grant.
``(b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe
regulations for--
``(1) evaluating grant applications under this section; and
``(2) otherwise administering the program established by
this section.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012 to carry out this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1708 the following new item:
``1709. Grants for provision of transportation to Department medical
facilities for veterans in remote rural areas.''.
SEC. 4. PERMANENT TREATMENT AUTHORITY FOR PARTICIPANTS IN
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
TESTING CONDUCTED BY DESERET TEST CENTER
(INCLUDING PROJECT SHIPBOARD HAZARD AND
DEFENSE).
Section 1710(e)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a period; and
(3) by striking subparagraph (D).
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING COLLECTIONS AUTHORITIES.
(a) Health Care Copayments.--Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is
amended by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2009''.
(b) Medical Care Cost Recovery.--Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is
amended by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2009''.
SEC. 6. READJUSTMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR COVERED
VETERANS.
(a) Provision of Readjustment Counseling and Mental Health
Services.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the
following new section:
``Sec. 1712C. Provision of readjustment counseling and mental
health services for covered veterans
``(a) Program Required.--The Secretary shall carry out a
program to provide peer outreach services, peer support
services, and readjustment and mental health services to
covered veterans.
``(b) Contracts With Community Mental Health Centers.--In
carrying out the program required by subsection (a), the
Secretary shall contract with community mental health centers
and other qualified entities to provide the services referred
to in that paragraph in areas the Secretary determines are
not adequately served by health care facilities of the
Department. Such contracts shall require each community
health center or other entity--
``(1) to the extent practicable, to employ covered veterans
trained under subsection (c);
``(2) to the extent practicable, to use telehealth services
for the provision of such services;
``(3) to participate in the training program under
subsection (d);
``(4) to comply with applicable protocols of the Department
before incurring any liability on behalf of the Department
for the provision of such the services;
``(5) to submit annual reports to the Secretary containing,
with respect to the program required by subsection (a) and
for the last full calendar year ending before the submission
of such report--
``(A) the number of veterans served, veterans diagnosed,
and courses of treatment provided to veterans as part of the
program required by subsection (a); and
``(B) demographic information for such services, diagnoses,
and courses of treatment;
``(6) to provide to the Secretary such clinical summary
information as the Secretary may require for each veteran for
whom the center or entity provides mental health services
under the contract; and
``(7) to meet such other requirements as the Secretary may
require.
``(c) Training Program for Veterans.--In carrying out the
program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall
contract with a nonprofit mental health organization to carry
out a program to train covered veterans to provide peer
outreach and peer support services.
``(d) Training Program for Clinicians.--The Secretary shall
conduct a training program for clinicians of community mental
health centers or other entities that have entered into
contracts with the Secretary under subsection (b) to ensure
that such clinicians are able to provide the services
required by subsection (a) in a manner that--
``(1) recognizes factors that are unique to the experience
of veterans who served on active duty in Operation Iraqi
Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom (including the combat
and military training experiences of such veterans); and
``(2) utilizes best practices and technologies.
``(e) Covered Veterans.--For the purposes of this
subsection, a `covered veteran' is a veteran who served on
active duty in a theater of combat operations (as determined
by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense) during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War,
or in combat against a hostile force during a period of
hostilities (as defined in section1712A(a)(2)(B) of this
title) after November 11, 1998, and who is discharged or
released from active military, naval, or air service on or
after September 11, 2001.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1712B the following new item:
``1712C. Provision of readjustment counseling and mental health
services for covered veterans.''.
SEC. 7. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM OF
REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR AT-RISK
VETERANS TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN
INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Program Authority.--Subsection (a) of section 2023 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``a
demonstration program for the purpose of determining the
costs and benefits of providing'' and inserting ``a program
to provide''.
(b) Scope of Program.--Subsection (b) of such section is
amended--
(1) by striking ``Demonstration'' in the subsection
heading;
[[Page H8894]]
(2) by striking ``demonstration''; and
(3) by striking ``in at least six locations'' and inserting
``in at least 12 locations''.
(c) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (d) of such section
is amended by striking ``shall cease'' and all that follows
and inserting ``shall cease on September 30, 2011.''.
(d) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Scope of program.--Subsection (c)(1) of such section is
amended by striking ``demonstration''.
(2) Section heading.--The heading of such section is
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at
risk of homelessness who are transitioning from certain
institutions''.
(3) Other conforming amendment.--Section 2022(f)(2)(C) of
such title is amended by striking ``demonstration''.
(e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking
the item relating to section 2023 and inserting the following
new item:
``2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of
homelessness who are transitioning from certain
institutions.''.
SEC. 8. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR DOMICILIARY SERVICES FOR
HOMELESS VETERANS AND ENHANCEMENT OF CAPACITY
OF DOMICILIARY CARE PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE
VETERANS.
Subsection (b) of section 2043 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(b) Enhancement of Capacity of Domiciliary Care Programs
for Female Veterans.--The Secretary shall take appropriate
actions to ensure that the domiciliary care programs of the
Department are adequate, with respect to capacity and safety,
to meet the needs of veterans who are women.''.
SEC. 9. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY
LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT
HOUSING.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to facilitate
the provision of supportive services for very low-income
veteran families in permanent housing.
(b) Authorization of Financial Assistance.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter V of chapter 20 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 2044. Financial assistance for supportive services for
very low-income veteran families residing in permanent
housing
``(a) Distribution of Financial Assistance.--
``(1) The Secretary shall provide financial assistance to
eligible entities approved under this section to provide and
coordinate the provision of the supportive services for very
low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing.
``(2)(A) Financial assistance under this section shall
consist of payments for each such family for which an
approved eligible entity provides or coordinates the
provision of supportive services.
``(B) The Secretary shall establish a formula for
determining the rate of payments provided to a very low-
income veteran family receiving supportive services under
this section. The rate shall be adjusted not less than once
annually to reflect changes in the cost of living. In
calculating the payment formula under this subparagraph, the
Secretary may consider geographic cost of living variances,
family size, and the cost of services provided.
``(3) In providing financial assistance under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall give preference to an entity that
provides or coordinates the provision of supportive services
for very low-income veteran families who are transitioning
from homelessness to permanent housing.
``(4) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent
practicable, financial assistance under this subsection is
equitably distributed across geographic regions, including
rural communities and tribal lands.
``(5) Each entity receiving financial assistance under this
section to provide supportive services to a very low-income
veteran family shall notify the family that such services are
being paid for, in whole or in part, by the Department.
``(6) The Secretary may require an entity receiving
financial assistance under this section to submit a report to
the Secretary describing the supportive services provided
with such financial assistance.
``(b) Application for Financial Assistance.--
``(1) An eligible entity seeking financial assistance under
subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application
in such form, in such manner, and containing such commitments
and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary.
``(2) An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall
contain--
``(A) a description of the supportive services proposed to
be provided by the eligible entity;
``(B) a description of the types of very low-income veteran
families proposed to be provided such services;
``(C) an estimate of the number of very low-income veteran
families proposed to be provided such services;
``(D) evidence of the experience of the eligible entity in
providing supportive services to very low-income veteran
families; and
``(E) a description of the managerial capacity of the
eligible entity to--
``(i) coordinate the provision of supportive services with
the provision of permanent housing, by the eligible entity or
by other organizations;
``(ii) continuously assess the needs of very low-income
veteran families for supportive services;
``(iii) coordinate the provision of supportive services
with the services of the Department;
``(iv) tailor supportive services to the needs of very low-
income veteran families; and
``(v) continuously seek new sources of assistance to ensure
the long-term provision of supportive services to very low-
income veteran families.
``(3) The Secretary shall establish criteria for the
selection of eligible entities to receive financial
assistance under this section.
``(c) Technical Assistance.--
``(1) The Secretary shall provide training and technical
assistance to eligible entities that receive financial
assistance under this section with respect to the planning,
development, and provision of supportive services to very
low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing.
``(2) The Secretary may provide the training described in
paragraph (1) directly or through grants or contracts with
appropriate public or nonprofit private entities.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated, for each fiscal year, $25,000,000, to
carry out this section, of which not more than $750,000 for
each fiscal year may be used to provide technical assistance
under subsection (c).
``(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
``(1) The term `very low-income veteran family' means a
veteran family whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the
median income for the area, as determined by the Secretary in
accordance with this paragraph, except that--
``(A) the Secretary shall make appropriate adjustments to
the income requirement under subparagraph (A) based on family
size; and
``(B) the Secretary may establish an income ceiling higher
or lower than 50 percent of the median income for an area if
the Secretary determines that such variations are necessary
because the area has unusually high or low construction
costs, fair market rents (as determined under section 8 of
the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)), or
family incomes.
``(C) the Secretary shall establish criteria for
determining the need for specific supportive services (as
defined by paragraph (8)) of individual very low income
veteran families occupying permanent housing.
``(2) The term `veteran family' includes a veteran who is a
single person and a family in which the head of household or
the spouse of the head of household is a veteran.
``(3) The term `consumer cooperative' has the meaning given
such term in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12
U.S.C. 1701q).
``(4) The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a private nonprofit organization; or
``(B) a consumer cooperative.
``(5) The term `homeless' has the meaning given the term in
section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 11302).
``(6) The term `permanent housing' means community-based
housing without a designated length of stay.
``(7) The term `private nonprofit organization' means--
``(A) any incorporated private institution or foundation--
``(i) no part of the net earnings of which inures to the
benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual;
``(ii) which has a governing board that is responsible for
the operation of the supportive services provided under this
section; and
``(iii) which is approved by the Secretary as to financial
responsibility;
``(B) a for-profit limited partnership, the sole general
partner of which is an organization meeting the requirements
of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A);
``(C) a corporation wholly owned and controlled by an
organization meeting the requirements of clauses (i), (ii),
and (iii) of subparagraph (A); and
``(D) a tribally designated housing entity (as defined in
section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)).
``(8) The term `supportive services' means the following:
``(A) Services provided by an eligible entity or
subcontractors that address the needs of very low-income
veteran families occupying permanent housing, including--
``(i) outreach services;
``(ii) health care services, including diagnosis,
treatment, and counseling for mental health and substance
abuse disorders and for post-traumatic stress disorder, if
such services are not readily available through the
Department of Veterans Affairs medical center serving the
geographic area in which the veteran family is housed;
``(iii) habilitation and rehabilitation services;
``(iv) case management services;
``(v) daily living services;
``(vi) personal financial planning;
``(vii) transportation services;
``(viii) vocational counseling;
``(ix) employment and training;
``(x) educational services;
[[Page H8895]]
``(xi) assistance in obtaining veterans benefits and other
public benefits, including health care provided by the
Department;
``(xii) assistance in obtaining income support;
``(xiii) assistance in obtaining health insurance;
``(xiv) fiduciary and representative payee services;
``(xv) legal services to assist the veteran family with
reconsiderations or appeals of veterans and public benefit
claim denials and to resolve outstanding warrants that
interfere with the family's ability to obtain or retain
housing or supportive services;
``(xvi) child care;
``(xvii) housing counseling;
``(xviii) other services necessary for maintaining
independent living; and
``(xix) coordination of services described in this
paragraph.
``(B) Services provided by an eligible entity or
subcontractors, including services described in clauses (i)
through (xix) of subparagraph (A), that are delivered to very
low-income veteran families who are homeless and who are
scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within 90
days of the date on which the service is provided pending the
location or development of housing suitable for permanent
housing.
``(C) Services provided by an eligible entity or
subcontractors, including services described in clauses (i)
through (xix) of subparagraph (A), for very low-income
veteran families who have voluntarily chosen to seek other
housing after a period of tenancy in permanent housing, that
are provided, for a period of 90 days beginning on the date
on which such a family exits permanent housing or until such
a family commences receipt of other housing services adequate
to meet the needs of the family, but only to the extent that
services under this paragraph are designed to support such a
family in the choice to transition into housing that is
responsive to the individual needs and preferences of the
family.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 2043 the following new item:
``2044. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
income veteran families residing in permanent housing.''.
SEC. 10. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DENTAL CARE.
Section 2062(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``60 consecutive days'' both places it appears
and inserting ``30 consecutive days''.
SEC. 11. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
Title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in each of sections 1708(d), 7314(f), 7320(j)(2),
7325(i)(2), and 7328(i)(2), by striking ``medical care
account'' and inserting ``medical services account'';
(2) in section 1712A--
(A) by striking subsection (g);
(B) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and (i) as
subsections (c) through (f), respectively; and
(C) in subsection (f)(1), as so redesignated, by striking
``(including a Resource Center designated under subsection
(h)(3)(A) of this section)'';
(3) in section 2065(b)(3)(C), by striking ``)'';
(4) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter
36, by striking the item relating to section 3684A and
inserting the following new item:
``3684A. Procedures relating to computer matching program.'';
(5) in section 3684(a)(1), by striking ``34,,'' and
inserting ``34,'';
(6) in section 4110(c)(1), by striking ``15'' and inserting
``16'';
(7) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter
51, by striking the item relating to section 5121 and
inserting the following new item:
``5121. Payment of certain accrued benefits upon death of a
beneficiary.'';
(8) in section 7458(b)(2), by striking ``pro rated'' and
inserting ``pro-rated''; and
(9) in section 8117(a)(1), by striking ``such such'' and
inserting ``such''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, as with the last bill, I want to just thank
both the chair, Mr. Michaud of Maine, and the ranking member, Mr.
Miller from Florida, for their great leadership and bipartisan
cooperation to get an important piece of legislation out.
This bill, the Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007,
combines a lot of different ideas from Members on both sides of the
aisle, and we are pleased to have this bill on the floor today.
Certainly, the mental health and well-being of our newest generation
of veterans is a serious cause for concern and deserves our fullest
attention.
The VA reported in April of this year that of the OEF/OIF veterans
who have separated and sought health care through the VA, mental
disorders rank second of frequency of possible diagnoses amongst these
veterans.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, is the number one health
concern. At this point, over 39,000 returning veterans have received a
provisional diagnosis of this, and we are looking into, in fact, maybe
a systemic underestimation of those who are diagnosed and, therefore,
to get treatment.
Mr. Speaker, the composition of the fighting forces in Iraq and
Afghanistan today is unique from past conflicts. Guard and Reserve
forces make up a large percentage of those fighting, around 50 percent
or a little more. Though only 19 percent of the Nation lives in rural
America, 44 percent of U.S. military recruits come from rural areas.
We must ensure that their health care and services meet the needs
that they deserve and have earned. It must be available and accessible
to all, and I would say we will take up as a committee the broad
subject of rural veterans sometime in the near future.
This bill requires the VA to award grants to conduct workshop
programs to help heal and better the lives of veterans who need it
through therapeutic programs such as art, writing and music to name
just a few. It establishes a grant program to provide transportation
options to veterans living in rural areas that will help to lessen the
burden on veterans who are unable to drive long distances due to their
disability or illness.
It also provides permanent authority to the VA to treat veterans who
are subject to chemical and biological testing. This is an obligation
we owe to those who have served.
We provide also for readjustment counseling and mental health
services. We include contracting with community mental health centers
in areas not adequately served by VA and contracting with nonprofit
mental health organizations to train OEF/OIF veterans in outreach and
peer support.
We address issues affecting homeless veterans and their families. The
VA has now become the largest single provider of direct services to
homeless veterans, reaching 25 percent of homeless veterans a year
through various programs. Our aim is to make it 100 percent. Many
communities have recently gone through what they call stand-downs, 2-
or 3-day efforts to bring the whole community in cooperation to provide
the services that homeless veterans need, whether they be medical or
dental or legal or drug abuse counseling, of course, food and clothing;
and we do that in 3 days a year in many communities. It is up to the VA
to do that 365 days a year for all our veterans, and we estimate over
200,000 on the streets tonight who served our Nation.
Prior to becoming homeless, a large number of veterans have struggled
with PTSD or had addictions acquired during or worsened by their
military service, and we want to expand and extend the counseling
services for these veterans. We expand programs to 12 locations
throughout the Veterans Health Administration and extend this program
through 2011.
The VA domiciliary care programs are an essential piece in assisting
veterans and providing needed services to help them recover and become
productive citizens again. We enhance in this bill the capacity of such
domiciliary care programs, for female veterans especially.
Finally, we want to authorize VA to provide financial assistance to
provide supportive services for very low-income veteran families who
reside in permanent housing.
In short, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2874 takes care of the men and women who
have so selflessly taken care of us. It provides our veterans with the
quality health care programs and services they need and they so richly
deserve. It is another down payment, another measurable piece of
keeping our promise to those who have kept their promise to us
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again, the eloquence of our
able chairman, he has done an excellent job in explaining the bill
that's before us on the floor today.
Mr. Speaker, this is an outstanding bill. It was a true bipartisan
effort. I appreciate the chairman of the committee, Mr. Michaud's, able
leadership
[[Page H8896]]
in bringing this bill to the floor. It does all of the things that our
chairman had talked about.
It deals with veterans in rural and remote areas. It does deal with
certain DOD biological and chemical warfare testing that was done
during the Cold War. It also deals with domiciliary programs, providing
adequate and safe environments to meet the needs of women veterans.
This is not just a good bill. It is a very good bill that helps VA
provide better care for our Nation's veteran, and I do urge my
colleagues to support this legislation
H.R. 2874, the Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007, as
amended, has strong bipartisan support and I want to express my sincere
thanks to Subcommittee Chairman Michaud for his leadership and hard
work to develop this legislation.
H.R. 2874, as amended, would establish a number of meaningful
improvements that will help VA to provide better care for our Nation's
veterans.
Veterans in remote rural areas would benefit with the establishment
of a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to
access VA medical facilities.
Readjustment counseling and mental health services for OIF/OEF
veterans would be enhanced through programs that would provide peer
outreach and support services, with special emphasis for Guard and
Reservists.
Veterans who participated in certain Department of Defense biological
and chemical warfare testing during the Cold War would permanently be
granted free VA medical care for conditions that may have resulted from
their participation in such testing.
VA domiciliary programs would be required to have adequate and safe
environments to meet the needs of women veterans.
Very low-income veteran families residing in or transitioning to
permanent housing would be eligible for VA financial assistance for
supportive services.
This is a good bill that would help VA provide better care for our
Nation's veterans.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, again, I yield 3 minutes to the Chair of our
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Ms. Herseth Sandlin.
Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R.
2874, and I'd like to once again thank Chairman Filner for his focused
and effective leadership in advancing this important legislation.
Ranking Member Buyer and especially subcommittee Chairman Michaud and
Ranking Member Miller are also to be commended for their hard work and
bipartisanship and for including Services to Prevent Homelessness Act,
a bill which I introduced, in the Veterans' Health Care Improvement
Act.
This legislation would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations and consumer
cooperatives to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive
services that address the needs of very low-income veterans occupying
permanent housing.
While Federal programs exist to help enhanced veterans homeownership,
there is no national housing assistance program targeted to low-income
veterans. Permanent housing opportunities for veterans ready for
independent living are limited. In addition, the VA currently is not
permitted to provide grants for affordable permanent housing, and the
resources that are available for providers are inadequate and highly
sought after by competing housing programs.
So I thank the chairman once again for supporting this legislation. I
thank the committee staff on both sides of the aisle for their
excellent work as well on this bill and others considered today, and I
look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the Veterans'
Affairs Committee to support efforts to meet the housing assistance
needs, among other needs, of our Nation's low-income veterans.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2874.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I see that the chairman has other
speakers that he may wish to yield time to, so we will reserve the
balance of our time.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Rodriguez from Texas has been particularly active
and energetic in advocating for the treatment of the mental health
needs of our veterans, and I yield 3 minutes to him.
Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2874, The
Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007. I would also like to
take this opportunity to recognize our chairman, Bob Filner, for his
leadership on this issue, and I want to personally thank him for what's
accomplished on a variety of issues regarding veterans.
I also want to acknowledge my friend, Congressman Miller, for his
efforts also on this particular bill.
This is an important piece of legislation and the nearly 60,000
veterans in my mostly rural district will certainly benefit from this
particular bill.
Earlier this year, I sponsored H.R. 2689, a bill that improves mental
health services for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi
Freedom veterans. This bill would establish a program for peer-to-peer
outreach and counseling for veterans. Many experts believe this method
is critical for getting veterans in need of services into the VA
system.
Additionally, under H.R. 2689, the VA would be required to look
beyond its current services to ensure that veterans have access to the
services that they need by embracing the expertise available in our
communities and contract out to qualified providers such as community
mental health centers who have been providing quality mental health
services for families for many years.
Under the leadership of the chairman, my bill was incorporated into
this bill, and I want to personally thank him.
Also included in this bill are provisions critical to veterans, as
our Speaker today understands, in Texas, such as the transportation
grants for rural veterans service organizations. In some parts of my
district and throughout this country, veterans have to drive long hours
to get access to services. This bill allows an opportunity for us to
provide some needed assistance and services in this specific area.
I also want to acknowledge that this bill also has language that
deals with Project SHAD, a bill that was extremely important to begin
to identify those thousands of soldiers that we also used weapons such
as nerve gas and other types of testing on, that we did on our own
soldiers that allows an opportunity for them to continue to get
service.
And other members of this committee, I want to personally thank them
for their efforts. Once again, I want to take this opportunity to thank
the chairman for his leadership.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we continue to reserve.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, one of our new Members, Congressman Murphy
from Pennsylvania, returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom. He gives us
the benefit of that experience both as an advocate for our active duty
and to the veterans who have served. We welcome you to the Congress. We
thank you for your expertise, and I yield as much time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the
chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give voice to a terrible injustice. On
any given night in America, nearly 200,000 veterans go homeless and
twice as many will go homeless over the course of the year. This is
shameful.
In my district in southeastern Pennsylvania, this problem is very
real. There are more than 3,300 homeless veterans in Pennsylvania and
at least 550 in the greater Philadelphia area alone. These are veterans
who saw combat in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
As someone who spent 10 years in the Army and walked the streets of
Baghdad, I cannot stand by while more of my fellow soldiers go hungry
and seek shelter. Over the last 3 years, as many as 1,300 veterans from
Iraq and Afghanistan have participated in homeless outreach programs by
the VA in their community. Who knows how many others went without help.
That's why, Mr. Speaker, I proudly support the Veterans' Health Care
Improvement Act, which looks after those who have sacrificed so much
for our country.
{time} 1700
This much-needed bill makes permanent a program to identify at-risk
servicemembers to prevent them from
[[Page H8897]]
ever becoming homeless once they leave the military. With the rapidly
increasing number of women veterans, the bill also instructs the VA to
make their programs for homeless veterans more accommodating for female
veterans.
I was proud to introduce these important provisions, and I thank the
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), and the gentleman from Maine
(Mr. Michaud), for bringing this bill to the floor and their leadership
on this issue. These brave American veterans, who once faced down our
enemies, shouldn't have to face one more night out on the street.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would just say H.R.
2874, as amended, would establish a number of meaningful improvements
that would help VA to provide better care for our Nation's veterans.
Once again, I support my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FILNER. Again, I thank Mr. Miller and Mr. Michaud for their
leadership on the bill and all the Members on both sides of the aisle
that have contributed to it.
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
include extraneous material on H.R. 2874.
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 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).
Mr. KENNEDY. I would like to commend the chairman and Ranking Member
Miller for the work they have done on this legislation, but moreover,
the attention they paid to our Nation's veterans. I also want to
commend the members of this committee for all the work that they have
done on mental health.
Mr. Speaker, I have had an opportunity, as a member of the Veterans
Appropriations Committee, to sit in on some of the committee hearings
on the Veterans Authorizing Committee and seeing the work that they
have done to try to increase the outreach to veterans with post-
traumatic stress disorder. I am pleased to see that this committee is
starting to do as much as they can to reach out to these veterans as
they return from Iraqi Freedom. But, clearly, more needs to be done. We
have witnessed that in these recent hearings.
I think that, clearly, the Appropriations Committee has recognized
this this year. I am pleased to announce that this Congress has voted
the largest increase in veterans health care spending in the 77-year
history of the Veterans Department.
Within that, there is an over $100 million increase in veterans
specialty mental health care. This is just one acknowledgment of many
that our veterans, when they come home, we need to make sure they come
home not only in body, but that they come home in spirit, and that it's
not enough just to take care of the outer wounds of our Nation's
veterans, but we also need to make sure that we mend the inner wounds,
the psychological and emotional wounds that they have sustained during
war defending our country's freedom.
Mr. FILNER. I thank the gentleman for his leadership on mental health
parity in this Nation.
Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Filner and Ranking
Member Buyer for their leadership on the Committee and for moving these
four bills forward to help our veterans. I would also like to thank
Ranking Member Miller for working with me on the veterans' health care
bills we are considering today.
I will limit my comments to H.R. 2874, although I support each of the
bills we are considering today. H.R. 2874 was passed unanimously by our
Committee. It represents a bipartisan effort to address a variety of
issues facing our veterans.
Section 2 of H.R. 2874 supports therapeutic readjustment programs to
assist veterans in their long physical and mental journey home through
a new grant program. Veterans already participate in these programs
without any financial assistance or guidance from the VA. It is my hope
that this new grant program will increase the number of veterans using
these rehabilitative options and that this will enable VA and providers
to better assess the benefits of these programs to veterans.
Section 3 authorizes funding for transportation grants for rural
veterans. Access to care is a significant challenge for rural veterans.
This program will provide grants to VSOs to implement innovative ways
of overcoming this challenge. This section was authored by Mr. Salazar.
Section 4 provides permanent authority for VA treatment of
participants in the DOD chemical and biological testing conducted by
Deseret Test Center, including Project SHAD (Shipboard Hazard and
Defense). This permanent authority was requested by the VA. Section 5
extends collections authorities for the VA until 2009. This extension
was also requested by the VA.
Section 6 authorizes the VA to provide expanded readjustment and
mental health services in areas determined by the secretary to be
underserved, especially peer-to-peer outreach services, for Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans.
Sections 7 and 8 come from Congressman Patrick Murphy's legislation,
H.R. 2699. It is no surprise that Congressman Murphy has taken a
leadership role in helping our Nation's veterans, and I thank him for
his work. There are as many as 200,000 veterans on the streets each
night. This is a shame on our Nation that must be addressed. The
provisions from Congressman Murphy's bill are critical to ending this
shame and helping these veterans find their way home.
Section 7 expands and extends the successful VA program of referral
and counseling for at-risk veterans transitioning from certain
institutions. The program is extended to 2011 and expanded from six
locations to 12. These services are largely directed toward
incarcerated veterans. There were over 225,000 veterans in prison in
1998. I believe it is important that we make every effort to make sure
that they do not return to prison.
Section 8 requires the Secretary to ensure that VA domiciliary
programs are adequate in capacity and safety to meet the needs of women
veterans. Homeless women veterans are an increasing proportion of the
homeless veteran population. We need to make sure that facilities are
capable of safely caring for this population and helping them get back
on their feet.
Section 9 authorizes funding for the Secretary to provide financial
assistance to eligible entities to provide supportive services for very
low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing. This section
comes from a bill authored by Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin.
Section 10 changes from 60 days to 30 days the required time for a
homeless veteran to be in a VA program before they are eligible for
dental care. Section 11 makes technical amendments to title 38.
Overall, this bill continues the ongoing efforts of our Committee and
this Congress to address the needs of our veterans and their families.
It is my hope that when we return in September, we can work quickly
with the Senate to create an omnibus package that includes H.R. 2874,
H.R. 2199, Mr. Miller's bill H.R. 2623, and other important veterans'
health care initiatives to send to the President for his signature.
I believe this is a good bipartisan bill and I ask my colleagues for
their support.
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. 2874, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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