[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 96 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H4184-H4185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FORMERLY OWNED RESOURCES FOR VETERANS TO EXPRESS THANKS FOR SERVICE ACT 
                                OF 2013

  Mr. DeSANTIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1171) to amend title 40, United States Code, to improve 
veterans service organizations' access to Federal surplus personal 
property.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1171

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Formerly Owned Resources for 
     Veterans to Express Thanks for Service Act of 2013'' or the 
     ``FOR VETS Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. VETERANS ACCESS TO FEDERAL EXCESS AND SURPLUS 
                   PERSONAL PROPERTY.

       Section 549(c)(3) of title 40, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) in clause (viii), by adding ``or'' at the end; and
       (B) by striking clause (x); and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) for purposes of providing services to veterans (as 
     defined in section 101 of title 38), to an organization 
     whose--
       ``(i) membership comprises substantially veterans; and
       ``(ii) representatives are recognized by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs under section 5902 of title 38.''.

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

[[Page H4185]]

Florida (Mr. DeSantis) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DeSANTIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1800

  Mr. DeSANTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Our Nation's veterans serve our country and make sacrifices for the 
freedom and protections we enjoy every day. I am deeply grateful for 
the brave and heroic service of all who defend our Nation. H.R. 1171 
permits veterans service organizations to obtain surplus Federal 
personal property, such as electronic equipment and vehicles, to 
provide services to our Nation's veterans.
  There are countless individuals and organizations who want to help 
our veterans, but sometimes the law and bureaucracy present stumbling 
blocks to these individuals and groups doing all they can on behalf of 
our veterans. We can never truly repay our Nation's veterans for the 
work they do, but this bill is a small and necessary step to provide 
essential services to those who serve.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I value and appreciate the sacrifices made by the men 
and women in our Armed Forces. For that reason, I am happy to rise in 
support of this legislation. The bill would simply amend current law to 
provide qualified veterans service organizations with greater access to 
Federal surplus property. The bill enjoys bipartisan support and is 
noncontroversial. In fact, in May of this year it was considered by the 
Oversight and Government Reform Committee and passed unanimously, a 
rarity in our history.
  In December, 2010, President Obama signed the original FOR VETS Act 
into law. That legislation established the eligibility of veterans 
service organizations to receive surplus property under the Federal 
surplus property program. The wording of the statute suggests that 
those organizations should also demonstrate they are acquiring the 
property for the purposes of education or public health. The narrow 
construction of that language really hurts veterans service 
organizations, who are not always equipped to administer public health 
or educational programs, that not being their core mission. They have 
thus been prevented in some cases from accessing the Federal surplus 
property Congress intended them to access.
  This legislation simply corrects any confusion and, if you will, that 
error to allow veterans organizations access to Federal surplus 
property to benefit veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to do better for our veterans, and I think this 
bill, H.R. 1171, is a good step forward. I urge Members to support the 
bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeSANTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek).
  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida, and I 
rise today in support of H.R. 1171, the FOR VETS Act of 2013.
  This bipartisan legislation will allow veterans service organizations 
access to Federal surplus property. In December, 2010, President Obama 
signed the original FOR VETS Act into law. This legislation added 
qualified VSOs to the list of organizations eligible to receive Federal 
surplus property under the Federal surplus property program. However, 
the wording of the statute requires all organizations to demonstrate 
that they are acquiring the property for purposes of public health or 
education.
  Unlike many of the other organizations on the list, most VSOs are not 
set up to administer a health or education program. A strict 
interpretation of the law by the General Services Administration has 
prevented these VSOs from accessing Federal surplus as Congress 
intended.
  Our bill would simply correct the error in current law and ensure 
that qualified VSOs will have the access to Federal surplus that our 
veterans have earned. This bill has been scored by the CBO as having no 
significant impact on spending. In this difficult economy, veterans 
service organizations can use valuable service items that are 
considered surplus property to better serve those who have given so 
much to our Nation. Some of these items could be a refrigerator for 
everyday use at a local post or even a vehicle to be used to take 
disabled veterans to appointments.
  Last year I spoke to a veteran in Elk Rapids, Michigan, who told me 
that the error in current law was preventing his AMVETS post from using 
Federal surplus computers for unique veteran service tasks. This bill 
will help him and so many others like him put Federal surplus property 
to work for our Nation's veterans. I am very proud to be part of this 
effort.
  I am grateful to Chairman Issa and Ranking Member Cummings and the 
members of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for the 
unanimous support this bill received during markup on June 25.
  I also want to thank the National Association of State Agencies for 
Surplus Property, as well as the American Legion and the Disabled 
American Veterans, for their support and assistance in getting this 
legislation to this point.
  I urge the House to adopt this bipartisan legislation that will help 
veterans service organizations in every State better serve our Nation's 
veterans.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Before I yield back, I just want to congratulate the 
gentleman on his legislation. It is correcting an error, and it will 
make a very positive benefit for so many veterans organizations, 
including the ones he enumerated. I am proud to support the 
legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeSANTIS. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I urge 
all Members to support the passage of H.R. 1171.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1171, 
the FOR VETS Act. This straightforward piece of legislation simply 
amends current law to allow Veterans Service Organizations--VSOs--
access to federal surplus property.
  VSOs are valuable partners in providing for our veterans, and can 
provide critical services including transport to medical appointments 
and other support services. H.R. 1171 ensures that VSOs are eligible 
for federal surplus property that could help to carry out their 
mission.
  Our brave men and women in uniform put their lives on the line to 
protect our freedoms, and we must do everything in our power to 
demonstrate our gratitude for their dedication and sacrifice. Our 
veterans deserve support, and this bill takes a step to showing them 
that we recognize their contributions and would like to give back.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote to help veterans by 
supporting H.R. 1171.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. DeSantis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1171.
  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. DeSANTIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________