[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 199 (Friday, December 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO HOUSE AMENDMENT TO 
  SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2764, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

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                               speech of

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, the fiscal year 2008 Department of State, 
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs amended appropriations bill 
includes funding for H.R. 2642, the Military Construction, Veterans 
Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008.
  This amended bill sends a clear message to America's service men and 
women, their families, and our veterans that a grateful Nation deeply 
respects their service and sacrifice. This bill says to all who have 
served that just as you have kept your promises to this country, we 
intend to keep our promises to you.
  Overall the bill totals $63.9 billion, of which $3.7 billion is 
contingent emergency funding. It provides the largest increase in VA 
health care funding in the 77-year history of the VA. These additional 
funds allow the Veterans Health Administration to hire more doctors and 
nurses; provide case managers for veterans with traumatic injuries; 
improve mental health care and PTSD services; increase access to 
medical services for members of the National Guard and Reserve forces 
in rural areas; modernize hospitals and clinics; increase the number of 
beds available for homeless veterans; and increase medical research. 
The additional funds also allow for an increase in beneficiary travel 
reimbursement, the first such increase since 1979.
  The Veterans Health Administration, which includes Medical Services, 
Medical Administration, Medical Facilities, and Medical Research, is 
funded at $37.2 billion, $2.6 billion more than the President's 
request. These funds will mean expanded care, shorter wait times, and 
safer facilities for our veterans.
  In addition to medical care, the bill provides funds to hire 1,800 
new claims processors to reduce the serious backlog of benefits claims 
and reduce the time to process new claims. These were complaints the 
subcommittee heard repeatedly from many different sources and we took 
action.
  On the Military Construction side, this bill also supports our active 
duty and Guard and Reserve service men and women and their families. 
The bill provides $20.6 billion for military construction, family 
housing, and BRAC.
  I am particularly proud of what we were able to do in this bill for 
families. Every year when the highest ranking non-commissioned officers 
testify before our subcommittee, we ask them to give us the top three 
quality of life issues facing military families. Child care is on every 
service's list and generally ranked as number one. That is why I am 
excited that we were able to fund 16 child care centers, 13 more than 
the President requested in his budget. We listened to the top non-
commissioned officers, military families, and support groups, such as 
the National Military Family Association, and did our best to address 
their concerns.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member of the 
subcommittee, Roger Wicker. His input and advice was invaluable in 
constructing this bill and our service men and women, their families, 
and our veterans are better served due to his leadership. I also want 
to thank the staff of the subcommittee, Carol Murphy, Tim Peterson, 
Walter Hearne, Donna Shahbaz, and Mary Arnold with the majority and Liz 
Dawson and Dena Baron with the minority. They have worked many long 
days and nights throughout the year putting this bill together and 
working with the Departments to ensure we have met our military and 
veterans most critical needs. Finally, I want to thank John Conger from 
my personal staff and Susan Sweat from Mr. Wicker's personal staff.
  Mr. Speaker, I think this is a bill we can all be proud to support.

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