[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 81 (Friday, June 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 31, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5854) making 
     appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes:

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 5854, 
the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which supports our military 
and their families and provides the benefits and medical care that our 
veterans have earned for their service.
  H.R, 5854 provides the facilities and infrastructure needed to house, 
train, and equip our military personnel to defend this Nation, both in 
the United States and abroad, provides the housing and military 
community infrastructure that supports a good quality of life for them 
and their families, and allows the military to maintain an efficient 
and effective base structure. The bill also funds programs to ensure 
that all veterans receive the benefits and medical care that they have 
earned as a result of their sacrifices in the service to our Nation.
  This bill builds on the progress of Democratically-led Congresses 
from 2007 through 2010 for veterans. Just as our military pledges to 
leave no one behind on the battlefield, Democrats in Congress have 
pledged to leave no veteran behind when they come home. This bill 
provides $71.7 billion in discretionary spending for Fiscal Year 2013, 
equal to last year's level.
  For VA programs, the bill provides $60.7 billion in discretionary 
funding, $2.2 billion above the FY 2012 enacted level. The bill also 
assumes $74.6 billion in mandatory funding. With this funding, the VA 
will be able to provide quality medical care to more than 6.3 million 
patients in 2013, including 610,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Madam Chair, let me note my strong opposition to a number of 
provisions in this bill. This bill enacts a pay freeze on federal 
workers and rejects the President's proposed 0.5 percent pay raise.
  I also oppose the language banning the implementation of the 
executive order encouraging government agencies to require contractors 
for large-scale Federal construction projects to negotiate or 
participate in labor agreements with unions. Republicans are trying to 
use this critical measure for our military and veterans to advance 
their controversial anti-worker agenda of no project labor agreements 
in Federal contracting.
  I would like to take a moment to express my strong support for the 
Grimm amendment. Last year, I worked with Congressman LaTourette on 
defeating anti-Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) language in the MilCon/
VA Appropriations bill and this year I rise in support of the Grimm 
amendment.
  Section 517 of H.R. 5854 prohibits agencies from being able to use 
all available methods to ensure that Federal contracts are cost-
efficient. Section 517 of this legislation increases the risk of 
project cost overruns, delays, and fails to protect our workers.
  The Grimm amendment ensures that funds for large-scale construction 
projects utilize the most cost-effective and efficient process for the 
awarding of Federal contracts and simply saves taxpayers money!
  Madam Chair, however one feels about Project Labor Agreements, the 
MilCon/VA bill is not the appropriate vehicle to have this debate. The 
MilCon/VA bill is intended to reflect our commitment to our veterans 
and our service members in uniform and should be limited to that 
purpose.
  The Grimm amendment simply allows Federal agencies to use all tools 
at their disposal in awarding large-scale contracts that ensure 
taxpayer funds are used efficiently and that projects are completed on 
time and on budget.
  All of us in Congress are looking at ways to rein in our deficit. 
This amendment protects workers and taxpayer funds. I urge my 
colleagues to support the Grimm amendment.
  Madam Chair, in my remaining time let me discuss an additional reason 
why I support this legislation. This bill includes $169 million for the 
ongoing effort to create an integrated electronic health record system 
that transitions from an individual's active service in the military to 
the VA and requires the VA and Defense Department to provide Congress 
with an execution and spending plan for FY 2013 and outline a road map 
for completing the project.
  The bill also includes the requested levels of $1.4 billion for VA 
homeless assistance programs and $4.8 billion for homeless veterans' 
treatment costs. The bill provides the requested $250 million to 
improve access and quality care for the more than three million 
veterans residing in rural areas and $6.5 billion for mental health 
programs including $443 million for post-traumatic stress disorder and 
$76 million for suicide prevention.
  This is not a perfect bill but this piece of legislation addresses 
the most critical needs of our service members, military families, and 
veterans. The positive provisions outweigh the negative ones and I urge 
my colleagues to support H.R. 5854.

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