[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 140 (Wednesday, October 9, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H6431-H6435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SURVIVOR BENEFITS CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS
RESOLUTION, 2014
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 91) making continuing appropriations
for death gratuities and related survivor benefits for survivors of
deceased military servicemembers of the Department of Defense for
fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The text of the joint resolution is as follows:
H.J. Res. 91
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for death gratuities
and related benefits for survivors of deceased military
service members of the Department of Defense for fiscal year
2014, and for other purposes, namely:
Sec. 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate
for operations as provided for fiscal year 2013 in the
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2013 (division C of
Public Law 113-6) and under the authority and conditions
provided in such Act, for ``Operation and Maintenance'' and
``Military Personnel'' accounts for continuing the following
projects and activities that are not otherwise specifically
provided for in this joint resolution or the Pay Our Military
Act (Public Law 113-39), and for which appropriations, funds,
or other authority were made available by the Department of
Defense Appropriations Act, 2013:
(1) The payment of a death gratuity under sections 1475-
1477 and 1489 of title 10, United States Code.
(2) The payment or reimbursement for funeral and burial
expenses authorized under sections 1481 and 1482 of title 10,
United States Code.
(3) The payment or reimbursement of authorized funeral
travel and travel related to the dignified transfer of
remains and unit memorial services under section 481f of
title 37, United States Code.
(4) The temporary continuation of a basic allowance of
housing for dependents of members dying on active duty, as
authorized by section 403(l) of title 37, United States Code.
(b) The rate for operations provided by subsection (a) for
each program or activity shall be calculated to reflect the
full amount of any reduction required in fiscal year 2013
pursuant to--
(1) any provision of division G of the Consolidated and
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (Public Law 113-
6), including section 3004; and
(2) the Presidential sequestration order dated March 1,
2013, except as attributable to budget authority made
available by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013
(Public Law 113-2).
Sec. 102. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be
available to the extent and in the manner that would be
provided by the pertinent appropriations Act.
Sec. 103. Unless otherwise provided for in this joint
resolution or in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal
year 2014, appropriations and funds made available and
authority granted pursuant to this joint resolution shall be
available until whichever of the following first occurs: (1)
the enactment into law of an appropriation for any project or
activity provided for in this joint resolution; (2) the
enactment into law of the applicable appropriations Act for
fiscal year 2014 without any provision for such project or
activity; or (3) December 15, 2013.
Sec. 104. Expenditures made pursuant to this joint
resolution shall be charged to the applicable appropriation,
fund, or authorization whenever a bill in which such
applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is contained
is enacted into law.
Sec. 105. This joint resolution shall be implemented so
that only the most limited funding action of that permitted
in the joint resolution shall be taken in order to provide
for continuation of projects and activities.
Sec. 106. It is the sense of Congress that this joint
resolution may also be referred to as the ``Honoring the
Families of Fallen Soldiers Act''.
This joint resolution may be cited as the ``Department of
Defense Survivor Benefits Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2014''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr.
Visclosky) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume, and I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 91, the
Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act.
Our government has no greater responsibility, Mr. Speaker, than to
take care of the families of our brave men and women who have fought
and died for our country. This bipartisan legislation provides
continuing appropriations to ensure that, if troops are killed serving
our country, our government will honor its obligations to them and
their families without delay.
Specifically, the bill would provide for the payment of death
gratuities and other benefits, such as military housing allowances, to
the families of our fallen soldiers. It would provide for authorized
funeral and burial services for servicemembers and their families.
This measure would also pay for families to travel to meet the
remains of their loved ones returning home. This bill provides
appropriations to pay benefits upon the deaths of military
servicemembers.
My colleagues, while this bill is written as a ``continuing
appropriations act,'' I want to be very clear. The intent of this
legislation is to fully fund the specific benefits for all authorized
recipients.
Mr. Speaker, we have a solemn duty to take care of our troops and
their families, especially as we remain a Nation at war.
Our men and women serving in uniform, serving in dangerous places all
over the globe, deserve the peace of mind of knowing that during the
worst of times their families will receive the benefits they deserve
immediately. This bill removes any ambiguity on this point.
This is a bipartisan bill with Democratic and Republican cosponsors
that, I believe, should pass with overwhelming support.
{time} 1245
Mr. Speaker, we are all looking for legislation upon which we can
reach consensus. I am hopeful this bill will bring us together, and I
urge support for it.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise, first of all, to thank Mr. Frelinghuysen for
bringing this legislation to the floor. I want to thank Chairman Young
of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the subcommittee members
for their work, and I certainly support the gentleman's legislation.
Unfortunately, the Department of Defense had to report that since
October 1 of this year, 17 servicemembers have perished whose survivors
would be entitled to a death gratuity payment. So the gentleman's
legislation is correct in that it is timely, and it should pass.
The only other observation I would make at the beginning of the
debate is the House passed the Pay Our Troops Act, H.R. 3210. I would
hope that none of our colleagues are under the misimpression that we
have solved all of our problems relative to our national defense
because, in a comprehensive fashion, essentially, it deals with about
40 percent of the Department's budget.
The problem that Mr. Frelinghuysen is attempting to address today is
but a slice of that 60 percent that, unfortunately, the Government of
the United States has not dealt with since the beginning of the fiscal
year. But, again, I strongly support and thank the gentleman for his
efforts.
[[Page H6432]]
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to
the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), chairman of the full
Appropriations Committee.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I thank the chairman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, the Honoring the
Families of Fallen Soldiers Act. This bill, as has been said, will
ensure that the families of U.S. military members who have given the
ultimate sacrifice will receive the benefits they were promised in
spite of this unfortunate government shutdown.
The House has voted to take care of our warfighters by ensuring that
they will be paid during the fiscal crisis, but our responsibility to
our soldiers doesn't end there by any means.
As they put their lives on the line on behalf of this Nation, our
brave soldiers shouldn't be concerned about who will take care of their
families. That's part of our Nation's agreement with our men and women
in uniform: You take care of the United States, and we will take care
of you and your beloved family.
To this end, the bill allows continued funding to guarantee that the
government honors its commitments to our military families without
delay. It allows funding to provide a death gratuity to families of
fallen soldiers. This is a lump payment to assist them in one of their
greatest times of need.
The bill also allows for the customary financial assistance for
funeral costs, family travel and housing, back salary payments, and
living expenses. It's certainly the least we can do for those who make
the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
The reality is we are a Nation at war. Wars don't stop just because
our government is not functioning properly, nor do our obligations to
our soldiers get put on pause while we work to clean things up.
To the families who have lost a son, a daughter, a sister, a brother,
a husband, or a wife to war, this bill is our commitment to you that
you should not have to suffer even more heartache after such a
significant loss.
This legislation is the right thing to do. It should be passed
without delay. I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Barber).
Mr. BARBER. I thank the gentleman.
First of all, I want to thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member
Lowey, Mr. Young, and Mr. Visclosky for taking up this critical
legislation and for moving it so quickly to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, our Nation lost five patriots in
Afghanistan. We need to remember who they were:
First Lieutenant Jennifer Moreno, U.S. Army;
Sergeant Joseph Peters, U.S. Army;
Sergeant Patrick Hawkins, U.S. Army;
Private First Class Cody Patterson, U.S. Army;
Lance Corporal Jeremiah Collins, U.S. Marine Corps.
Thirty-six hours after they were killed, their families were notified
that our government would not pay death benefits because of the
government shutdown.
When I heard about this yesterday morning, I simply could not believe
it was true. I asked my staff to look into the matter and find out if
it could possibly be true. Unfortunately, they confirmed that indeed we
had denied these benefits. We took immediate action, and along with a
bipartisan group of Members representing the districts where these
fallen heroes lived, we moved forward and introduced this legislation.
As has been said, the bill will provide funding to pay survivor
benefits and cover the funeral costs for these military families and
all servicemembers who may give the ultimate sacrifice during this
shutdown of our government services.
God forbid that any other family should be put in this situation
again. It is absolutely abhorrent that we would leave our military
families without assistance when they are at their most vulnerable time
of trying to deal with their loss and grief.
General Leave
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and their
remarks and include extraneous materials on H.J. Res. 91, and that I
may include tabular material on the same.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Thornberry), a distinguished member of the Armed
Services Committee.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of the
gentleman from New Jersey in all matters related to national security,
as well as the leadership of the gentleman from Indiana.
I also appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey's bringing this
measure to the floor. It's rather unfortunate and somewhat amazing to
me, actually, that he has to.
The Pay Our Military Act passed the House on September 29, passed the
Senate, and was signed by the President the next day. It says clearly
that there are hereby appropriated such sums as are necessary to
provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces.
Who would have ever thought that some lawyer in the Pentagon would
say that the death and other benefits we are talking about today would
not be included in that? Rather than spend more time in squabbles with
lawyers, I think the gentleman from New Jersey wisely has brought this
measure to the floor just to make it clear so everybody understands
that all of these allowances should be paid.
I think it's also, Mr. Speaker, very important for all of us to say
that our hearts grieve with the families for whom this benefit is
immediately relevant. Money alone, of course, cannot express our
gratitude for the sacrifice and the service that their loved ones have
given to this country. But it is important, even in these times when we
have differences on fiscal and other issues, that the House come
together and everybody unites, regardless of our opinions about other
targeted funding issues, to say that we will stand with those families
who have given so much to our Nation.
So, again, I commend the gentleman from New Jersey for bringing this,
and I hope that all of my colleagues will vote in support of this
measure.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota
(Ms. McCollum).
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans made a purely political
choice to shut down our government to advance their agenda.
Unbelievably, House Republicans decided to shut down our government
with thousands of American servicemen and -women on the battlefields in
Afghanistan. We are here today because brave Americans who gave their
lives on the battlefield were being denied funeral benefits because of
this shutdown. Their families were being denied payments of survivor
benefits.
This is a disgrace and a shameful consequence of the irresponsible
Republican majority. This is an outrage.
The fact that we are here today to pass this bill is a clear
admission that America's fallen heroes have been abandoned in this
shameless political game being played.
Passing this bill is absolutely needed, but this bill requires us to
recognize the willful failure of the Republican leadership in this
House to fund our Federal Government and to provide our servicemen and
-women all that they need.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), a member of the Armed Services
Committee.
Mr. HUNTER. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey and all of my
colleagues on the Appropriations Committee who are bringing this up so
quickly and for fast-tracking it.
Mr. Speaker, I was in the Marine Corps. I did three tours: two in
Iraq, one in Afghanistan. I served with these men and women. I have met
their wives, their husbands, their kids, their families. I sat down
with them. I've had dinner with them. I want to say from the bottom of
my heart, I apologize for the shameful act of the administration's
lawyers in determining that
[[Page H6433]]
what we passed last month does not count for paying this death benefit.
When the lawyers in the administration made the decision to not count
the death benefit, they broke a sacred trust with our U.S. military men
and women and those on the front lines. It is up to us in this Congress
to restore that trust for the American people and for our military that
we have sent to war for whom we have a responsibility.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Barber).
Mr. BARBER. I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to say the denial of this benefit is
absolutely outrageous, and it is a disgrace. We've broken our
fundamental promise to fallen heroes, and we must fix it. This bill
will do just that.
We must also ensure that it never happens again. That's why, later
today, I will be introducing a bill that makes sure we never forsake
our fallen servicemembers or any member of our uniformed services ever
again under these circumstances.
I am very pleased that we came together today in a bipartisan
fashion. I thank my colleagues for coming together and for putting
their differences aside in order to honor these commitments to those
who have fallen and in order to take care of their families in this
time of need. I hope we will see a unanimous vote in approving this
bill.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to
the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), a member of the Armed
Services Committee.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Thank you, Congressman Frelinghuysen. I
am very grateful that my oldest son's in-laws are ably served in New
Jersey by Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen.
Mr. Speaker, I stand today to express my shock at the
administration's absolutely disgusting failure to keep faith with those
who paid the ultimate price in the service of our country.
Today, four of our fallen have arrived at Dover Air Force Base, and
the families in attendance will have had to pay their own way to be
there for the arrival of their loved ones. This is a disgrace and an
intentional policy to cause pain by this administration, whose actions
are disrespectful of those who have made our freedoms possible.
Soon, we will vote to restate the critical death gratuities that we
owe in no uncertain terms to the families of our fallen servicemembers
to correct the injustice that has been thrust upon them.
I am particularly disappointed in the administration, as the son of a
veteran, as a 31-year veteran myself, and as a grateful father of four
sons currently serving in the military.
This Congress, in a bipartisan way, passed the Pay Our Military Act.
It was signed into law for the express purpose of making sure that
those who served in our Armed Forces in the defense of our freedom are
paid all that they are owed. The administration already has the
authority to pay this gratuity.
Every effort should be made to respect our servicemembers and
military families. The administration is playing politics on the backs
of the families of our fallen. This is unconscionable.
Today's vote will give us an opportunity to do our duty to take care
of the families of our fallen servicemembers. I urge my colleagues on
both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this bill.
{time} 1300
Mr. VISCLOSKY. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE. I rise in enthusiastic support of H.J. Res. 91, and
I thank the ranking member and the chairman for recognizing that all
Members--all Members--had a pain in their heart regarding those mothers
and fathers who are now suffering the loss of their children, four
young men and one young woman, to my recollection, names that we should
never forget because we are a Nation at war. For that reason, I believe
that this was of great concern to the administration and Secretary
Hagel. They're in a dilemma, a conflict, if you will, on the present
shutdown of the government.
But I would say to the chairman and ranking member, this is what
Congress is all about, fixing the problem.
Mr. Speaker, I will place into the Record my letter to Secretary
Hagel asking for relief for these families. Now we have it.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. I yield an additional 10 seconds to the gentlewoman.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. If I might just inquire, a question of the Chair on
H.J. Res. 91: Would you accept a unanimous consent request to ask that
every Member of the House be considered an original sponsor or
cosponsor of this legislation, H.J. Res. 91?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman's request cannot be
entertained. There is a proper procedure for adding cosponsors.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. I make that request now.
Congress of the United States,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, October 8, 2013.
Hon. Chuck Hagel,
Secretary of Defense,
Washington, DC.
Dear Secretary Hagel: Let me express my appreciation for
your service to our nation and for the sacrifices being made
by men and women in uniform serving far from home to keep
America safe.
As you may be aware, this past weekend five members of the
Armed Forces fell in battle while serving in Afghanistan. All
Americans mourn their loss and extend our condolences to
their families.
I am particularly disturbed to learn that death benefits
have been withheld from the families of the fallen due to the
government shutdown.
I am therefore requesting that you review H.R. 3210, the
``Pay Our Military Act,'' which the President signed into law
as Pub. L. 113-039 on September 30, 2013, and direct that
death benefits be paid to the families immediately so that
they can travel to Dover Air Force Base and defray the cost
of funeral expenses for these fallen heroes.
As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, I
know how important the work done by our men and women in
uniform serving abroad is to the mission of keeping the
homeland secure. I know also that your commitment to our men
and women in uniform is unparalleled.
Thank you for your reconsideration. Please contact me if I
can be of further assistance.
Very Truly Yours,
Sheila Jackson Lee,
Member of Congress.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Bishop), a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday, four brave United States
servicemembers died in service to our Nation. Like too many before,
Lieutenant Jennifer Moreno, Sergeant Hawkins, Sergeant Joseph Peters,
and Private First Class Cody Patterson were killed--far from home--by
an improvised explosive device in the remote Kandahar province of
Afghanistan.
Now, due to the government shutdown, their families have not been
disbursed the standard survivor benefits from the United States
military that they are rightfully owed. These benefits include
reimbursement to the family for funeral expenses, payment of survivor
housing, reimbursement for funeral travel, travel associated with
dignified transfer of the remains, and other expenses.
This is, beyond a doubt, an outrage. Two of the fallen, Sergeant
Hawkins and Private Patterson, were based in my district at Fort
Benning, Georgia. Both soldiers were members of the Army's prestigious
75th Ranger Regiment. Sergeant Hawkins was serving his fourth
deployment to Afghanistan and Private Patterson his second.
Imagine the pain these families are going through in coping with the
death of a loved one. Now imagine being greeted with the cold shoulder
of a shuttered government, their country turning on them all because of
an unnecessary shutdown.
How dare we not provide these grieving families with the necessary
support in their time of need. I am truly embarrassed that these
shutdown shenanigans have impacted these brave soldiers' families in
this way.
To those people who say the government shutdown is only of minimal
impact, remember these families. This is not minimal. These are our
sons and daughters we have sent to combat in faraway lands, and they
should never have to question our Nation's resolve in taking care of
their families. We
[[Page H6434]]
must reopen our government so that such inconveniences do not continue
to plague our Nation.
In the meantime, let's pass this bill, H.J. Res. 91, for our Nation's
military families.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York
(Mrs. Lowey), the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee.
Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, without question, every Member of the House
should support providing a death gratuity for family members following
the death of service personnel.
The majority is once again proposing an approach that addresses
today's problem but leaves the overarching crisis before us unresolved.
Major gaps in capabilities remain with neither a fully functioning
national defense nor a fully functioning Federal Government.
The Republican shutdown and piecemeal plan is damaging to the
Department of Defense: it hurts our credibility with our allies;
reports from the Asian-Pacific Economic Forum suggest that the shutdown
raises questions about U.S. political stability and plays into Chinese
and Russian foreign policy objectives; and the Army Chief of Staff has
said the shutdown is harming readiness.
Even if Republicans' irresponsible piecemeal bills were enacted, at
the rate they are going, it would take until after Christmas before the
government is fully up and running.
We could end the shutdown today if Republican leadership would allow
a vote. Democrats have negotiated. We didn't just meet in the middle;
in fact, we agreed to the Republican spending level in the stopgap
bill.
How many more times will the majority discover an unintended
consequence before they come to their senses and allow a vote to end
the reckless Republican shutdown?
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. If I could ask my friend how many more speakers he has
on his side.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We anticipate, through the Chair, several more
speakers; but I assume we are both waiting, perhaps, for some
additional.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. That is what both of us are doing, and we can continue
talking to each other.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I would be happy to.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Let me say to the gentleman that I want to salute you and Chairman
Young for sponsoring this legislation, which is truly bipartisan, for
bringing it to the floor and for giving Members of both parties an
opportunity to join together. At a time when there is a lot of
disjointment around here and lack of consensus, on this there is no
argument at all; and I am highly appreciative of all that you have done
to assist in this process?
Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I appreciate the gentleman's
remark about our chairman, Mr. Young, who has announced his retirement
at the end of this Congress. You could find no finer person in the
world--a kinder heart or wanting to leave the world better--than our
chairman.
I would use this time while we are waiting to simply follow on
Chairman Rogers' remark in reminding all of our colleagues that we do
continue to be a Nation at war, and while we have lost 17 individuals
since October 1, in fact, this Nation has lost 117 people since the
beginning of this year.
I do hope, as we proceed with the United States Congress and the
administration, people understand that we ought to fully fund not just
the Department of Defense for their important job, but the other
agencies of this government, and certainly through the regular
appropriations process.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, our government has no greater responsibility than to
take care of the families of our brave men and women who have fought
and died for our country. This legislation will ensure, as we've said
earlier in this discussion, without question and any ambiguity, that
the Department of Defense should provide payment of death gratuities
and other benefits to families of our fallen men and women in uniform.
I urge support for this bipartisan legislation, and I thank Chairman
Young and Ranking Member Visclosky for their leadership in making sure
this bill gets to the President as quickly as possible.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res.
91. Yesterday the Department of Defense issued a press release saying
the Pentagon does not have the authority to pay death gratuities for
the survivors of service members killed in action. This is beyond
unacceptable.
Prior to the end of the fiscal year this body passed the Pay Our
Military Act, giving the Secretary of Defense plenty of latitude on
prioritizing military pay and allowances to Service Members.
This act was understood to provide for death benefits to families of
fallen troops during the government shutdown.
I add my voice to the cacophony of frustrated colleagues in
disbelief. We are flabbergasted that the Death Gratuity, which provides
surviving family members $100,000 in death benefits, was not brought to
our attention sooner.
Our office received a phone call from a constituent yesterday who was
enraged that military families were no longer receiving these benefits.
Having deployed as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves, I have been
in those life altering situations where the loss of life uproots a
family's sense of normalcy.
The immediate days after learning of a service member's death are
critical for a bereaving family. Knowing the cost of burial and other
after life care is provided for makes the situation a little more
bearable.
I plead with this Congress to not turn this issue into one of our
normal political footballs where we punt the issue from one body to the
next. Let us decide now to take care of our citizens who have offered
up their sons and daughters, husbands and wives to the defense of our
Nation.
Today this body will choose the moral imperative and tell the
families who have lost it all, your cries are being heard and your
broken hearts have moved our Chamber into action.
I implore the House with the strongest conviction I possess to move
on this legislation and return military families back to focus on
rebuilding their lives.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in strong support of
H.J. Res. 91 the Department of Defense Survivor Benefits Continuing
Appropriations Resolution for 2014.
The Federal Government functions as a cohesive unit, not as
dismembered parts. The Federal Departments, sub agencies, independent
agencies, commissions, and offices interact with each other much like a
military unit serving in the field.
They have relationships that are not apparent until they are revealed
most often when a critical need for the Federal Government function is
not present when another agency or most important when someone needs
that service.
I along with fellow members of the United States House of
Representatives stand together to honor and recognize the sacrifice of
Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins, First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno,
Sergeant Joseph M. Peters, Private First Class Cody J. Patterson, and
Lance Corporal Jeremiah who lost their lives in defense of this nation
and pray for their families that they find solace, grace and mercy.
We made a promise to them and to their families to support them when
deployed, and take care of their families at home so they can serve
without fear or concern for the wellbeing of their loved ones.
We also promised all of our men and women in the armed services that
should the unthinkable happen and their lives are lost in the service
of this nation we will step in and be there for their families.
This promise is one that the House and the President take very
seriously, but the business of politics is intervening in our discharge
of the most basic function of Congress to fund the entire Federal
Government.
Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins, First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno,
Sergeant Joseph M. Peters, Private First Class Cody J. Patterson, and
Lance Corporal Jeremiah did not forget their duty nor ignore the
obligations to keep the oath they took to protect this nation from all
enemies both foreign and domestic.
The majority has to put the nation's interest ahead of their
political interest--the ideological, social or cultural values that you
embrace cannot supersede the needs of our nation. Congress' insistence
on funding some parts of the Federal government, while intentionally
not funding others is causing confusion and doubt about what can and
cannot be funded.
This is understandable since the Federal funding process has never
occurred in this way.
[[Page H6435]]
Members of the House of Representatives know how serious Congress
takes Federal employees coloring outside of the lines when it comes to
Congressional legislative intent when they carry out their work. We do
not ask Federal employees to be creative with the purse strings of the
government, but the mini-CR process is creating confusion and
uncertainty on how Federal employees working with a mini-CR, reduced
staff and under Sequestration determine how to proceed within the law.
Appropriations bills can be hundreds of pages long depending on the
size of the agency. When the House of Representatives insisted on
closing the entire Federal government, then decides to engage in this
absurd process of mini-continuing resolution, they knew we were moving
Federal employees into uncharted waters.
There will be other surprises regarding what agency is needed to
provide a service to a group or another part of the Federal Government.
Mr. Speaker, the House majority has this Nation stumbling around a
dark room looking for a way out, but we know how to escape this drama.
The flashlight that can lead us out of this darkness is the passage of
the Senate's clean CR.
I pay tribute to these American heroes:
Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins, 25, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, assigned
to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia. In
2010, he enlisted into the Army following his high school graduation.
He has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious
Service Medal and Purple Heart. Sergeant Hawkins has been awarded the
Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good
Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign
Medal with two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, and the
Presidential Unit Citation.
Sergeant Hawkins was described by fellow service persons as ``a brave
and incredibly talented Ranger.'' It is reported that he was killed
while going to the aid of a fallen fellow soldier. The Ranger Creed: I
will never leave a fallen comrade, is part of the values held by
soldiers--they put others before themselves and in doing so assure
success of their missions.
First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno, 25, of San Diego, California,
assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Washington. First Lieutenant Moreno volunteered to be a member of a
cultural support team that joined efforts with a special operations
task force serving in Afghanistan.
She grew up in Logan Heights with her mother, two sisters and a
brother who is also in the Army.
Sergeant Joseph M. Peters, 24, of Springfield, Missouri, assigned to
the 5th Military Police Battalion, Vicenza, Italy. It is reported that
the Army's Criminal Investigation Command (CID) said that Sergeant
Joseph M. Peters was assigned to one of their Special Operations units.
Sergeant Peters investigated felony level crimes involving the Army.
Peters was the first special agent for CID to be killed in Iraq or
Afghanistan.
Private First Class Cody J. Patterson, 24, of Philomath, Oregon,
assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Benning,
Georgia. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan. He was
described as:
. . . courageous and dedicated and lost his life while
fighting tenaciously against our nation's enemies alongside
his fellow Rangers. Our thoughts and prayers are with the
Patterson family.
Lance Corporal Jeremiah, 19, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, assigned to
Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
We offer our heartfelt sympathy to the families and fellow soldiers
of those who died.
Mr. Speaker I ask that my Colleagues work together to end this
impasse so that we can have a whole and completely functioning Federal
government.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 91.
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. FRELINGHUYSEN. 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.
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