[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1090-E1091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012

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                               speech of

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 2, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2055) making 
     appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes:

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking 
Member Bishop for agreeing to offer my amendment en bloc to H.R. 2055--
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act. My amendment simply removes funding from the VA 
Medical Support and Compliance Account and replaces it back in the very 
same account. My intent in doing this is to highlight an issue for my 
colleagues and for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
  I believe that the VA needs to comprehensively examine its wait times 
for processing requests for mental health services from veterans and 
that the VA should submit a report to Congress no later than January 1 
of 2012 on changes they intend to make to ensure that veterans needing 
mental health services receive those services in a timely and 
efficacious manner.
  Veterans in my district often wait years for a resolution of their 
cases with the VA. My office works closely with veterans, assisting

[[Page E1091]]

many of them in expediting their requests for the benefits to which 
they are entitled, including mental health benefits. Unfortunately, 
many of these veterans still wait years for a resolution of their 
cases. This is simply unacceptable. These men and women have sacrificed 
their health, well-being, and, in some cases, their livelihoods, for 
this country.
  The excessively long wait times at the VA are unjust and un-American. 
The wait times for veterans who are suicidal or suffering from mental 
health illnesses, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and 
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), are especially troubling.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support timely mental health 
services for our veterans by voting ``yes'' on this amendment.

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