[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2017

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 2016

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4974) making 
     appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes:

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, first, I want to thank Chairman Dent and Ranking 
Member Bishop for their unwavering leadership of our subcommittee. As 
the daughter of a veteran, it is truly an honor to be serving in my 
second year as a member of the Military Construction and Veterans 
Affairs Subcommittee.
   The bill before us provides a total of $81.6 billion in spending--
which, thankfully, is $1.8 billion more than current-year spending 
levels. Yet, this allocation falls $1.2 billion short of the 
President's requested funding level. This gap undermines the promise 
that we've made to veterans that we would provide them with the best 
and most innovative care.
   This, Mr. Chair, is unnecessary, shameful--and frankly--
unacceptable. While there are many provisions which create spending 
gaps for vital services that our veterans need, I am also pleased to 
support other provisions.
   I support the investments in military infrastructure, housing, and 
other services to ensure that we give our brave men and women in 
uniform and their families the proper respect and care they deserve. 
Additionally, I am pleased that these investments will also help make 
our military facilities greener and more energy efficient, which is 
vital to our planet, our national security and the department's bottom 
line.
   I also want to thank the Chair and Ranking Member for the inclusion 
of report language requiring the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) 
to provide an updated report on claims processing at the Oakland VA 
Regional Office (VARO). While the Oakland VA has made significant 
improvements in Oakland, more work remains to ensure that veterans in 
my District and throughout the Bay Area are provided with quality care 
and timely care.
   Mr. Chair, I understand the enormous sacrifices made by our service 
members and their families. And that's why I support language 
encouraging more coordination between federal agencies to help our 
veterans' transitioning back to civilian life find jobs. I'm also 
pleased this bill provides veterans greater access to education, 
housing and more comprehensive health and mental health services. While 
these are small steps, they are important ones when approximately one 
million veterans will be settling into American communities in the next 
three to five years.
   Finally, Mr. Chair, I want to mention that I will join my colleagues 
in offering an amendment to allow VA doctors to prescribe medical 
cannabis to their patients in states with state-legal medical cannabis 
laws. Mr. Chair, the federal government shouldn't be erecting barriers 
between patients and their medicine. So I hope my colleagues will join 
me in supporting that effort.
   I look forward to continue working with the subcommittee to improve 
quality of life for our brave service members, veterans and their 
families. And to work towards addressing funding deficiencies as the 
process moves forward--our veterans deserve nothing less

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