[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 24, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5965-H5968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF THE YEAR OF THE AMERICAN VETERAN

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1098) supporting the goals and ideals of the Year 
of the American Veteran.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1098

       Whereas there are currently more than 25,000,000 veterans 
     of the United States Armed Forces, residing in the United 
     States;
       Whereas those who are legally termed ``veteran'' have 
     served the United States honorably in either times of peace 
     or war;
       Whereas by the very nature of their service, veterans have 
     sacrificed, along with their families, in the name of their 
     country;
       Whereas the service of veterans has and continues to 
     guarantee the fundamental freedoms afforded to all Americans;
       Whereas the American people are grateful and appreciative 
     of the sacrifices made by all veterans, past, present, and 
     future and wish to especially commemorate their service; and
       Whereas the Commission on the Future for America's Veterans 
     has designated 2008 as the ``Year of the American Veteran'': 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) encourages the American people to recognize and 
     acknowledge the sacrifices the American veteran demonstrates 
     in the name of freedom;
       (2) encourages the education of the American people on the 
     many great contributions of the American veteran to American 
     society; and
       (3) supports the goals and ideals of the Year of the 
     American Veteran.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

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California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) 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, 
and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1098 to support the goals and 
ideals of the Year of the American Veteran.
  This resolution encourages the American people to recognize and 
acknowledge the sacrifices the American veteran demonstrates in the 
name of freedom; encourages the education of the American people on the 
many great contributions of the American veteran to American society; 
and supports the goals and ideals of the Year of the American Veteran.
  The Commission on the Future for America's veterans has designated 
2008 as the ``Year of the American Veteran,'' and today we are joining 
them in remembering our veterans.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, and for us to strive 
together to remember our veterans not only this year, but in the years 
and decades to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I would say that George Washington over 220 years ago 
had it right when he said the most important factor in the morale of 
our fighting troops is the sense of how they are going to be treated 
when they come home. So we have a job to do for the veterans not only 
of this war, but of all the previous wars that we have carried out.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, my name is pronounced BOO-yer, B-u-y-e-r. It looks like 
``buyer.'' The descent is from Alsace-Lorraine, pronounced de BOO-yea, 
and you just Americanized it. But we refer to it as BOO-yer. Thank you.
  In the previous debate, Mr. Speaker, I would like the Record to 
properly reflect that the chairman had made a comment with regard to 
four naming bills that was not accurate at all. I support consideration 
of this naming bill and three other veterans' naming bills on the 
schedule today. I do wish to correct the record regarding the statement 
I understand Chairman Filner to have made during early consideration of 
H.R. 2818 that I, quote, ``objected to the consideration of the 
veterans' naming bills today, all four of them.''
  While I do not think Chairman Filner intended to dissemble about the 
matter, I thought I detected his impish grin for which he is so well-
known. In any event, Mr. Speaker, I want to make clear that I support 
the consideration of veterans' naming bills.
  I did ask Chairman Filner by way of my staff director to his to 
address specific drafting concerns I have about H. Res. 1291 before 
scheduling the resolution for the suspension calendar today; but that 
was not done so I will try to clarify the matter on the resolution with 
the author of the bill when it is considered.
  I also need to clarify for the Record in the last debate that in 
response to Mr. Salazar's remarks, my dear friend from Colorado, that 
``all of these bills were passed through committee.''
  The only bill which we are considering right now, Mr. Speaker, that 
was passed through the committee is H. Res. 1098. It was marked up and 
reported out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. The other seven bills 
are being brought straight to the floor without committee report or 
action.
  As the ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I 
have an obligation to help ensure that veterans and their families have 
access to the benefits and services they so richly deserve. More 
importantly, I have been an advocate for military members and veterans 
almost my entire life. I have been in uniform with the United States 
Army Reserves both on and off active duty now for 28 years. For the 
last 16 years, I have simultaneously served in Congress as I have also 
been in the Army Reserves. It is a great part of who I am. It is for 
this reason that I am proud to support H. Res. 1098 which supports the 
goals and ideals of the Year of the American Veteran.
  As the chairman stated earlier today, there are over 25 million 
veterans in the United States who sacrificed by defending the freedoms 
we enjoy as Americans, and supporting the ideals of liberty all over 
the world.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes those sacrifices and 
commemorates the service of veterans in times of peace and war. This 
resolution also encourages the people of the United States to join the 
Commission of the Future of America's Veterans in celebrating the year 
2008 as the ``Year of the American Veteran.''
  Before we pass this resolution, I believe that my colleagues should 
also pause for a moment and say why is this Congress bringing this 
resolution to the floor at this time. I view bringing this resolution 
to the floor at this time as a continued matter of the chairman 
attempting to inoculate the majority, inoculate because the Democrats 
who control this Congress, they want to bring a bill to the floor that 
would cut a monthly pension to wartime elderly, disabled and indigent 
veterans in the amount of nearly a billion dollars. So before the 
Democrats take nearly a billion dollars away from war-time disabled, 
indigent, homebound veterans, they want to stand and put their arms 
around veterans and say, We are going to name 2008 the Year of the 
American Veteran so it makes them look good just before they take a 
billion dollars from the most vulnerable veterans.
  I need to inform not only the Members but the country so they know 
what this Congress is about to do. I believe it is a matter of 
principle that the Nation should not be taking money from one group of 
deserving veterans to fund someone else. In this case, the attempt is 
to take this series of dollars and if we adopt what the chairman had 
done in the full committee, it would be to take nearly this $1 billion 
and make these payments that would then go to Filipinos who fought with 
the United States during World War II. If we pick up what the Senate 
had done, they take nearly the billion dollars and they spread it out 
among a number of veterans programs of which a smaller portion then 
would be with regard to the Filipinos.
  I bring that to everyone's attention because the President of the 
Philippines is in the United States and is here to deliver a resolution 
that passed through their legislature wanting our country to know that 
if Mr. Filner and this Congress is successful, they will not offset any 
moneys the United States will be sending to the Philippines.
  So this matter before the House is very serious. The American people, 
Mr. Speaker, should know and all Members should clearly know that 
before we say that 2008 is the Year of the Veteran, we better make sure 
that is exactly what we mean. That we embrace those ideals before we 
take nearly a billion dollars and cut that from the very same soldiers 
that fought right next to those World War II Philippine veterans.
  You think about this, we make it a law and say if someone is about to 
die, well actually, let me rephrase that.
  We believe it is shameful and therefore make it against the law to 
actually go up and put your hand in the pocket of someone who is dead 
and steal from that person, take money away from them. Well, I think 
that is right. We should do that.
  But then what are we about to do here with regard to these wartime 
elderly and indigent, homebound veterans whom are the most vulnerable. 
Many are lying in a bed. They are homebound. They are 60 percent or 
greater disabled, and now we are saying Congress, we are going to deny 
that monthly pension that goes to you. We are going to stop it, take it 
away from you. And oh, by the way, we are going to give it to the 
living because you are about to die, so we are going to spread it among 
other veterans, which will be the nonresident alien Filipinos that 
served valiantly in World War II.

                              {time}  1830

  Now, if in fact that's what Congress wants to do, fund it with some 
other source, don't take it from this vulnerable population. When I 
talked about what the Senate bill approved--actually, when I referred 
to it as almost $1 billion, it's $912 million in pension benefits for 
these wartime elderly, indigent, severely disabled, or homebound 
American veterans. A portion of the funding saved by this unprecedented 
cut in veterans' benefits would be used to fund, if we followed 
Chairman Filner's view, which would be a very oversized pension for 
World War II Filipino veterans; or if we followed the Senate's

[[Page H5967]]

version, we would take those moneys, reduce the size of the pensions 
and spread it among other veterans. We would be doing this in the very 
same year in which the chairman is asking we make the Year of the 
American Veteran.
  Now, I suspect that most Americans would be shocked and dismayed that 
any Member of Congress, regardless of what party they are in, would 
propose such a drastic cut. But that is exactly what the chairman 
intends to do very soon.
  What is more ironic is that today we are here on the floor to 
consider this worthy resolution that will recognize this year as the 
Year of the American Veteran while in the same stroke, this very 
Congress wants to cut veterans' benefits from the very same people from 
which we are honoring with this resolution.
  The bill that I am referring to is Senate 1315 as amended which 
passed out of the Senate in April, and a similar bill that I earlier 
had mentioned is H.R. 760 as amended, which passed the House Committee 
on Veterans Affairs last July. Both of these bills contain this cut of 
nearly $1 billion.
  When the Democrat majority passed these bills out of the Senate and 
out of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, they voted to 
eliminate, as I said, a special monthly pension for severely disabled 
veterans over 65 who were receiving pensions for wartime service. This 
special monthly pension provides an additional payment of up to $2,200 
per year to the most severely disabled veterans.
  In 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 
overturned the Department of Veterans Affairs decision that denied the 
special monthly pension to an 86-year-old legally blind World War II 
veteran named Robert A. Hartness, who was also receiving a VA pension 
granted to poor, disabled veterans. The court reversed the VA's denial 
of benefits to Mr. Hartness and required them to begin paying this 
monthly pension. The court held that the United States Code requires an 
award of a special monthly pension to an eligible veteran for VA 
nonservice-connected disability pension if, in addition to being at 
least 65 years old, the veteran has a disability rating of at least 60 
percent or is permanently housebound.
  This, in the Year of the American Veteran, Senate 1315 and H.R. 760 
would override the court's decision.
  According to the VA, more than 20,200 veterans could be affected by 
this unprecedented cut in veterans' benefits. This cut in veterans' 
benefits is opposed by the American Legion, AMVETS, the National 
Association of Uniform Services, the Gold Star Wives of Americans, and 
other veterans' service organizations.
  The following excerpt is from an April 25, 2008, letter to all 
Members of Congress: ``The American Legion believes the sacrifice of 
these heroes warrants relief. Balancing the books on the backs of the 
very patriots that protected and defended this Nation is 
unconscionable. Don't make a grave mistake in the name of fairness, 
equality, or even fiscal responsibility. Do what is right.''
  Well, I wholeheartedly agree. Congress has an obligation to protect 
these vulnerable veterans, and it's because I believe they have no 
voice, and indeed many of them are so severely disabled, they are 
housebound, and require aid and attendance.
  While I recognize the service of the Filipino veterans of World War 
II, those who advocate for their compensation should do so from other 
funding sources. It should not be at the expense of our needy veterans.
  I believe that we should not cut benefits from aging veterans who 
need us most to fund new entitlements. To do so would violate the 
principle of honor that defined their service and our obligation to 
both them and the Nation they served.
  Mr. Speaker one of the provisions of the resolutions states, 
``Resolved, that the House of Representatives (1) encourages the 
American people to recognize and acknowledge the sacrifices the 
American veteran demonstrates in the name of freedom.''
  How can the House of Representatives encourage the American people to 
acknowledge the sacrifices of American veterans when very soon 
afterwards, this very same Congress that is supposed to represent the 
people wants to vote to cut nearly $1 billion from these wartime 
elderly, indigent, disabled veterans who need it most? We are sending 
veterans, servicemembers, and the American people the wrong message if 
we do this.
  So I would remind my colleagues who vote in support of this 
resolution to please recognize that when this legislation may come soon 
to the floor. Because if my colleagues join me in embracing our 
Nation's veterans, particularly those who are disabled by sacrifice for 
the ideals and the heritage of this Nation and truly want to thank them 
by naming 2008 the Year of the American Veteran, then I ask you do not 
cut their veterans' benefits if this bill is brought to the floor.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution, but I do not support 
the rationale of continued inoculation and a mixed message that will 
result in this cut of nearly $1 billion from these wartime elderly, 
disabled, and indigent veterans.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I'm prepared to close, and I will reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to support the chairman's 
resolution.
  I yield back all my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, we are debating House Resolution 1098, 
although the ranking member spent all of his time on a bill called S. 
1315 which earlier passed the full Senate by a vote of 96-1. Would 96 
Senators support a bill that cuts nearly $1 billion in special monthly 
pension benefits for elderly veterans? No, because that's not what S. 
1315 does. And in fact, the leader of the minority party, Senator John 
McCain, voted in favor of this bill; and he said, I certainly believe 
that we should compensate not only the thousands and thousands of 
veterans who get the money from the bill but the Filipinos for their 
brave service to our Nation.
  But we are on House Resolution 1098 to honor the Year of the American 
Veteran. I will tell the Speaker that in the last year and a half of a 
Democratically led Congress, about $17 billion of new money came into 
the VA system to help the health care of our veterans. That is real 
contribution to health care. That is real contribution to mental health 
that we need to deal with.
  We have thousands and thousands, even though the Department of 
Defense refuses to admit it, of young men and women coming back from 
Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain injury and PTSD, post-
traumatic stress disorder. These require months and months, if not 
years and years, if not decades, of treatment from a grateful Nation 
for their service. We have put the money in that will begin to do that 
job.
  Of course, our committee has to continue with oversight over 
bureaucracies that tend to respond rather slowly. But in our Resolution 
1098, in our budget which meets the veterans' groups so-called 
independent budget, which is put together by them, and for the first 
time in the history of the independent budget for 2 years in a row we 
exceeded their budget from this Democratic Congress. So the Year of the 
American Veteran is not just words. It's budget dollars, it's 
commitment, it's programs, it's support for our brave veterans, like I 
said, whether from this war or earlier wars.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to unanimously support House 
Resolution 1098.
  I would also ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. I have no further requests for time, and 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 agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1098.
  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. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

[[Page H5968]]

  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 motion will be 
postponed.

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