[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 123 (Thursday, September 13, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5969-H5972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS RESOLUTION, 2013
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further
consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 117) making continuing
appropriations for fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes, will now
resume.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
Motion to Recommit
Mr. BARBER. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the joint
resolution?
Mr. BARBER. I am opposed in its current form.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to
recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Barber moves to recommit the joint resolution H.J. Res.
117 to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to
report the same back to the House forthwith with the
following amendment:
At the end of the joint resolution (before the short
title), insert the following:
Sec. 156. (a) Full Year Funding for Military Personnel
Accounts.--Notwithstanding section 106, appropriations and
funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this
joint resolution (including section 101(c)) for the following
accounts of the Department of Defense shall remain available
until September 30, 2013:
[[Page H5970]]
(1) ``Military Personnel, Army''.
(2) ``Military Personnel, Navy''.
(3) ``Military Personnel, Marine Corps''.
(4) ``Military Personnel, Air Force''.
(5) ``Reserve Personnel, Army''.
(6) ``Reserve Personnel, Navy''.
(7) ``Reserve Personnel, Marine Corps''.
(8) ``Reserve Personnel, Air Force''.
(9) ``National Guard Personnel, Army''.
(10) ``National Guard Personnel, Air Force''.
(b) Performance of Medical Disability Examinations by
Contract Physicians.--The authority provided by section 704
of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (38 U.S.C. 5101 note)
shall continue in effect through the date specified in
section 106(3) of this joint resolution.
(c) Treatment of Homeless and Seriously Mentally Ill
Veterans.--The authority provided by section 2031 of title
38, United States Code, shall continue in effect through the
date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution.
(d) Additional Services for Homeless and Seriously Mentally
Ill Veterans.--The authority provided by section 2033 of
title 38, United States Code, shall continue in effect
through the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint
resolution.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent that the reading be dispensed with.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes in support of his motion.
{time} 1750
Mr. BARBER. Madam Speaker, I am offering this amendment to improve
this legislation and truly show this Chamber's support for our veterans
and men and women in uniform by preventing their pay and services from
being impacted by a potential government shutdown next year. The
underlying bill we are voting on today lacks key provisions that are
needed to protect our veterans in Active Duty military. My amendment
will add these provisions.
My amendment will ensure that our patriotic military men and women
are not victims of partisan gridlock. My amendment ensures that basic
military pay will not be interrupted in a potential shutdown. My
amendment guarantees that our Armed Forces will be paid for the entire
year, not just for the 6-month duration authorized by this continuing
resolution.
Unfortunately, Congress has failed to do its job, and we cannot allow
a government shutdown to impact the basic pay of our men and women in
uniform. This is a guarantee and an assurance that they have a right to
expect we will uphold no matter what.
My amendment also addresses the fact that three critical Veterans
Administration authorizations are set to expire at the end of the year.
The first is for Contract Medical Disability Authority. Without this
extension which my amendment provides, the VA would not be able to pay
for contract medical exams from discretionary funds. This could
significantly delay veterans' receipt of benefits.
The second authorization which my amendment extends would give the VA
the authority to establish sites to treat homeless veterans and those
with mental illness. Without this extension, the VA would not be able
to provide these essential services at these sites.
The third VA authorization set to expire helps the VA provide housing
and treatment to homeless veterans with a serious mental illness.
Again, without this extension, the VA would no longer be able to
provide for therapeutic transitional housing assistance for veterans
who are homeless or who have a serious mental illness.
Our veterans stepped forward when we asked them to serve this great
Nation. In return, it is our undeniable responsibility to help them
find employment when they are able to work and to care for them when
they are not. Tonight, there are about 70,000 homeless veterans who
will sleep on the streets of our country. This is a situation that is
absolutely deplorable, and we must act to provide them with the
assistance they deserve.
None of what I've proposed here should be a partisan issue. This is
about keeping our sacred promise to those who have defended our
freedoms. There are nearly 100,000 veterans in my southern Arizona
district and two military installations--Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
in Tucson, where I grew up and where my father was deployed, and Fort
Huachuca in Sierra Vista and the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Air National
Guard just across the district line.
I am offering this amendment in thinking of the men and women who are
stationed there and across this Nation and across the world. During our
recent work period, I went to the airport in Tucson to honor the men
and women of our Army National Guard as they left for deployment in
Afghanistan. I told them and their families, on behalf of all of us,
how grateful we are for their service. Today, I ask you to join with me
in putting action behind those words. This is not a partisan issue. We
can and must find common ground in this Chamber on this very issue.
This morning, my colleague Congressman Platts and I introduced a
bipartisan bill, the Veterans Health Care Access Act. Our bill will
make it easier for veterans to get access to the health care they need.
What other issue we face is more important than this to both sides of
the aisle than supporting our Armed Forces and our veterans?
At a time when we need to get services to our veterans who are newly
returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, we cannot be creating
uncertainty and allowing a lapse of service or pay. This is about the
Army sergeant I met on the flight going home who is now diagnosed with
post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury and who will
soon be medically discharged. He deserves to know that we will stand up
for him and others like him.
Let me say again that the passage of this amendment will not prevent
the passage of the underlying bill. I urge my Republican and Democratic
colleagues alike to vote ``yes'' on this final amendment and to support
our military and to support our veterans.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Parliamentary Inquiry
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. As I understand it, Madam Speaker, there is
foreign aid money in this bill, and I want to know if any of it is
going to Libya or Egypt. Our Embassies have been attacked. An
ambassador has been killed. The Muslim Brotherhood runs Egypt--and
we're going to give them money? I would like to have an answer.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair cannot respond to that inquiry.
That is a matter for debate.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I rise in opposition to the motion to
recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to
the motion to recommit. This procedural motion is nothing more than a
dilatory tactic designed to score political points for the cameras.
We have worked fervently and in good faith to put together a CR that
meets the Nation's critical needs for the next 6 months. We did take
care of our veterans in this bill. We did take care of our troops. With
the enactment of this CR, the funding for veterans will be $2.1 billion
more than last year. The CR provides all the funds necessary for our
troops' pay raise.
The only problem is, in order for the checks to go out, the Senate
has to pass an authorization bill, which they've been sitting on for
months. It's time for the Senate to act on behalf of our troops and our
veterans.
Now, we've got to pass this CR to keep the government open and to
keep the doors from closing on their government, yet the Democrats want
to put a roadblock to passing this one piece of legislation that keeps
the government running. The last time I checked, Madam Speaker, if you
closed down the government, the Nation's most deserving--our troops and
veterans--would not get a single dollar of the benefits that they
deserve. So this bill is necessary.
With the November elections on the horizon, we should not be
surprised that the other side wants to put politics ahead of doing our
work--as usual. The American people expect us to stop the partisan
bickering and get our work done. The time for idle talk is over. Enough
is enough. We've got bipartisan agreement on this bill. The
[[Page H5971]]
House, the Senate--both parties--and the White House have signed off on
this bill. The motion is not needed, it is not helpful, and the money
is in the bill. Stop the political posturing, and make our citizens
proud. Vote ``no.''
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is
ordered on the motion to recommit.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the noes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. BARBER. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 and clause 9 of rule
XX, this 15-minute vote on the motion to recommit House Joint
Resolution 117 will be followed by 5-minute votes on passing House
Joint Resolution 117, if ordered; and suspending the rules and passing
S. 3245.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 189,
noes 232, not voting 8, as follows:
[Roll No. 578]
AYES--189
Ackerman
Altmire
Andrews
Baca
Baldwin
Barber
Barrow
Bass (CA)
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bonamici
Boren
Boswell
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown (FL)
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Carnahan
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Chandler
Chu
Cicilline
Clarke (MI)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly (VA)
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Critz
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
Deutch
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Frank (MA)
Fudge
Garamendi
Gonzalez
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hanabusa
Hastings (FL)
Heinrich
Higgins
Himes
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hochul
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Israel
Jackson Lee (TX)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kaptur
Keating
Kildee
Kind
Kissell
Kucinich
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lujan
Lynch
Maloney
Markey
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McNerney
Meeks
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Moore
Moran
Murphy (CT)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Olver
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Paul
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters
Peterson
Pingree (ME)
Platts
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Richardson
Richmond
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell
Sherman
Shuler
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Speier
Stark
Sutton
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Tonko
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz (MN)
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watt
Waxman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Woolsey
Yarmuth
NOES--232
Adams
Aderholt
Alexander
Amash
Amodei
Austria
Bachmann
Bachus
Barletta
Bartlett
Barton (TX)
Bass (NH)
Benishek
Berg
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Bonner
Bono Mack
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brooks
Buchanan
Bucshon
Buerkle
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canseco
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Chabot
Chaffetz
Coble
Coffman (CO)
Cole
Conaway
Cravaack
Crawford
Crenshaw
Culberson
Denham
Dent
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dold
Dreier
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers
Emerson
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Flake
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Gardner
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (MO)
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grimm
Guinta
Guthrie
Hall
Hanna
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Heck
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (IL)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jordan
Kelly
King (IA)
Kingston
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Labrador
Lamborn
Lance
Landry
Lankford
Latham
LaTourette
Latta
Lewis (CA)
LoBiondo
Long
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Lungren, Daniel E.
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
Marino
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McKeon
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
Meehan
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Mulvaney
Murphy (PA)
Myrick
Neugebauer
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Nunnelee
Olson
Palazzo
Paulsen
Pearce
Pence
Petri
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Pompeo
Posey
Price (GA)
Quayle
Reed
Rehberg
Reichert
Renacci
Ribble
Rigell
Rivera
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross (FL)
Royce
Runyan
Ryan (WI)
Scalise
Schilling
Schmidt
Schock
Schweikert
Scott (SC)
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Southerland
Stearns
Stivers
Stutzman
Sullivan
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Turner (NY)
Turner (OH)
Upton
Walberg
Walden
Walsh (IL)
Webster
West
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NOT VOTING--8
Akin
Blumenauer
Broun (GA)
Herger
Jackson (IL)
King (NY)
Ross (AR)
Towns
{time} 1813
So the motion to motion to recommit was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the joint
resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This will be a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 329,
noes 91, not voting 9, as follows:
[Roll No. 579]
AYES--329
Ackerman
Aderholt
Alexander
Amodei
Andrews
Austria
Baca
Bachus
Baldwin
Barber
Barletta
Barrow
Bartlett
Bass (CA)
Bass (NH)
Becerra
Benishek
Berkley
Berman
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Bonamici
Bonner
Boren
Boswell
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Braley (IA)
Brown (FL)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Buerkle
Burgess
Butterfield
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Capito
Capps
Carnahan
Carney
Carson (IN)
Carter
Cassidy
Castor (FL)
Chaffetz
Chandler
Chu
Cicilline
Clarke (MI)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Coble
Coffman (CO)
Cohen
Cole
Conaway
Connolly (VA)
Costa
Courtney
Cravaack
Crawford
Critz
Crowley
Cuellar
Culberson
Cummings
Davis (CA)
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
Denham
Dent
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Dold
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Dreier
Duffy
Edwards
Ellison
Ellmers
Engel
Eshoo
Farenthold
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fortenberry
Frelinghuysen
Fudge
Gallegly
Garamendi
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gonzalez
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves (GA)
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Griffin (AR)
Grijalva
Grimm
Guinta
Guthrie
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hanabusa
Hanna
Harper
Harris
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Heck
Heinrich
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Higgins
Himes
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hochul
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Israel
Issa
Jackson Lee (TX)
Jenkins
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly
Kildee
Kind
King (IA)
Kingston
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Lance
Langevin
Lankford
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
LaTourette
Latta
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Long
Lowey
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan
Lungren, Daniel E.
Lynch
Maloney
Manzullo
Marino
Markey
Matsui
McCarthy (CA)
McCarthy (NY)
McCaul
McCollum
McGovern
McHenry
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
McNerney
Meehan
Meeks
Mica
Michaud
Miller (MI)
Miller (NC)
Moore
Moran
Mulvaney
Murphy (CT)
Murphy (PA)
Myrick
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Nugent
[[Page H5972]]
Nunes
Nunnelee
Olson
Owens
Palazzo
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Paulsen
Pearce
Pelosi
Pence
Perlmutter
Peters
Pingree (ME)
Pitts
Platts
Polis
Pompeo
Price (GA)
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Reyes
Ribble
Richardson
Richmond
Rivera
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Runyan
Ruppersberger
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Scalise
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schock
Schwartz
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Serrano
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Southerland
Speier
Stivers
Sullivan
Sutton
Terry
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tierney
Tipton
Tonko
Turner (NY)
Upton
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walberg
Walden
Walz (MN)
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watt
Waxman
Webster
Welch
West
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wilson (FL)
Womack
Woodall
Yarmuth
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NOES--91
Adams
Altmire
Amash
Bachmann
Barton (TX)
Berg
Bono Mack
Boustany
Brooks
Burton (IN)
Canseco
Capuano
Chabot
Conyers
Cooper
Costello
Crenshaw
Davis (IL)
DesJarlais
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Emerson
Fincher
Flake
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Foxx
Frank (MA)
Franks (AZ)
Gardner
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Gosar
Gowdy
Graves (MO)
Griffith (VA)
Hall
Hartzler
Huelskamp
Johnson (IL)
Jones
Jordan
Kissell
Kucinich
Labrador
Lamborn
Landry
Lee (CA)
Lummis
Mack
Marchant
Matheson
McClintock
McDermott
McIntyre
McKeon
Miller (FL)
Miller, Gary
Neugebauer
Noem
Olver
Paul
Peterson
Petri
Poe (TX)
Posey
Quayle
Rehberg
Rigell
Ross (FL)
Rush
Schilling
Schmidt
Schrader
Schweikert
Scott (SC)
Sensenbrenner
Shuler
Simpson
Stark
Stearns
Stutzman
Tsongas
Turner (OH)
Walsh (IL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Woolsey
Yoder
NOT VOTING--9
Akin
Blumenauer
Broun (GA)
Herger
Jackson (IL)
King (NY)
Miller, George
Ross (AR)
Towns
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). There is 1 minute
remaining.
{time} 1820
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri changed his vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
Mr. WELCH changed his vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the joint resolution was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________