[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E653-E654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4486) making 
     appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes:

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak on H.R. 4486, MILCON-VA 
Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015.
  The bill provides a total of $165 billion in FY 2015 to fund military 
construction projects and programs of the Veterans Affairs Department--
$7 billion (4 percent) more than current funding.
  This total includes $93.5 billion in mandatory spending (all for VA 
benefits) and $71.5 billion in discretionary funding.
  Sequestration has caused significant problems for the VA in meeting 
the needs of our nation's veterans.
  Unfortunately, H.R. 4486, does not provide the President's budget 
request for Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) medical care and 
includes unnecessary restrictions that could have negative consequences 
for benefits to our veterans.
  I am disappointed with the funding level for VA Medical Care, which 
is $368 million below the President's request.
  This funding level could delay the timely delivery of health care 
services to veterans and impede the Administration's efforts to end 
veterans' homelessness in 2015.
  I hold our men and women of the armed services in the highest regard. 
I have fought for them to receive pay raises, affordable and safe 
housing, family support services, and the best possible medical care.
  The Dr. Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center is in my District, and I am 
proud to say that Harris County is home to 187,717 veterans and Texas 
is called home by more than 1,618,413 veterans.
  Our veterans never fail to respond to the call to serve their 
country. That is why we cannot and must not fail to serve them. And 
that begins by eliminating the back log. Veterans should not have to 
wait months to receive the care they need.
  We must continue to fund programs to end veteran homelessness and 
increase benefits for veterans to assure they have access to 
healthcare, education and good paying jobs.
  My support of veterans has been consistent and strong over the time I 
have served in the House of Representatives. I know firsthand how 
painful it is for Veterans to seek assistance for medical care--
especially PTSD or Traumatic Brain injuries.
  The VA has made important progress on the disability claims backlog 
which was at 900,000 last year, but the agency despite sequestration 
has made progress in reducing.
  I will not be satisfied until the VA disability claims backlog has 
been eliminated.
  VA funding should not be reduced from the amount requested by the 
Administration especially in light of the continuing backlog in 
disability claims.
  Further, the bill provides $50 million below the request for 
Information Technology operations and maintenance programs, which may 
result in delayed technology infrastructure improvements that ensure 
continuity of operations for services that support all of VA's services 
and benefit delivery.
  I appreciate the funding level provided for electronic health record 
interoperability and VistA Evolution, but I object to restriction on 
obligations for VistA modernization efforts.
  Interoperability between the DOD and VA recordkeeping systems could 
significantly reduce the number of Veteran disability claims that are 
waiting processing.
  Interoperability can also lead to significant cost savings by 
reducing inefficiencies that are created when the capacity for 
computing systems to automate benefits management and track claim 
submissions are not available.
  Furthermore, interoperability among systems that are key to our men 
and women in uniform transitioning to civilian life makes sense for 
them and their families.
  The Administration is committed to achieving seamless data 
integration and interoperability between the Department of Defense, VA, 
and also with private healthcare providers.
  Meeting the challenge of interoperability must be addressed to make 
sure that Veterans receive the necessary and appropriate care in a 
timely manner.
  The level of discretionary funding for FY 2015, which includes $55.6 
billion in advance funding from prior-year appropriations, is $1.8 
billion (2 percent) less than current comparable funding and $398 
million less than requested.
  I do thank the Appropriations Committee for its decision to provide 
$58.7 billion in advance FY 2016 funding for VA medical programs.
  The measure boosts discretionary spending for the VA, providing $64.7 
billion for FY 2015, $1.5 billion (2 percent) more than the comparable 
current level, while cutting military construction by $3.3 billion (33 
percent) to $6.6 billion, equal to the administration's request.
  The administration, given current budget caps on defense and 
nondefense spending,

[[Page E654]]

elected to propose reductions in military construction in order to 
preserve funding for defense readiness accounts in the Defense 
appropriations bill.
  With defense and non-defense spending caps in place for FY 2015, 
House and Senate appropriators expect to avoid the gridlock on spending 
bills that occurred last year.
  Mr. Chair, it is my hope that my colleagues in the majority will 
place the best interest of the American people first during the 
deliberations on the budget to ensure that Federal government nor the 
American people have to endure another shutdown.

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