[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 64 (Thursday, April 30, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 29, 2015

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2029) making 
     appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes:

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, today I rise in support of the 
over 180,000 brave veterans in Harris County, Texas who answered the 
call to duty when America needed them most and urge my colleagues to 
make much needed changes to the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs 
Appropriations bill that honor America's promise to all of our nation's 
veterans.
  The MilCon-VA funding bill has traditionally been bipartisan and 
without controversy. Just last year MilCon passed the House by a margin 
of 416-1.
  This year, unfortunately, this must-pass legislation fails to fully 
fund critical priorities for our veterans and the American people, 
including veterans' medical care and military and VA construction.
  Nearly every major national Veteran Service Organizations, including 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the 
American Legion, agree and have called on the House to reconsider this 
legislation and fully fund the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  Yesterday, the national commander of the VFW said that ``the 
nationwide crisis in care and confidence that erupted in the VA last 
year was caused in many ways by the lack of adequate resourcing that 
only Congress is authorized to provide. That's why the VFW is demanding 
that the House amend this bill to appropriate a funding level that 
fully funds VA.''
  The national commander for the American Legion voiced similar 
feelings last week when he called for Congress and the White House to 
put political gamesmanship aside and fully fund Veterans Affairs.
  Madam Chair, I do not recall ever voting against a VA funding bill. 
Unfortunately, as currently written I cannot vote for this bill and 
call on my colleagues to demand that the VA be fully funded.
  The current funding shortfall for our veterans and military 
construction, which have always been supported by Democrats and 
Republicans, further highlights the pressing need for Congress to end 
the sequestration cuts. We simply cannot continue suffocating essential 
programs that support our servicemembers and veterans protect working 
families and our most vulnerable.