[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 128 (Friday, July 28, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H6538-H6540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 95) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide child care
assistance to veterans receiving certain medical services provided by
the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 95
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 ``Veterans' Access to Child
Care Act''.
SEC. 2. CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS RECEIVING MENTAL
HEALTH CARE AND OTHER INTENSIVE HEALTH CARE
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 1730B. Child care assistance for veterans receiving
mental health care and other intensive health care services
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide child care
assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the
veteran--
``(1) receives covered health care services at a facility
of the Department; and
``(2) is required travel to and return from such facility
for the receipt of such health care services.
``(b) Child Care Assistance.--(1) Child care assistance
provided under this section may include any of the following:
``(A) A stipend for the payment of child care offered by a
licensed child care center (either directly or through a
voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable,
modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care
Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 590 of title
40.
``(B) Direct provision of child care at an on-site facility
of the Department.
``(C) A payment made directly to a private child care
agency.
``(D) A collaboration with a facility or program of another
Federal department or agency.
``(E) Such other form of assistance as the Secretary
considers appropriate.
``(2) In the case that child care assistance under this
section is provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such
stipend shall cover the full cost of such child care.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `eligible veteran' means a veteran who--
``(A) is the primary caretaker of a child or children; and
``(B) is--
``(i) receiving covered health care services from the
Department; or
``(ii) in need of covered health care services, and but for
lack of child care services, would receive such covered
health care services from the Department.
``(2) The term `covered health care services' means--
``(A) regular mental health care services;
``(B) intensive mental health care services; or
``(C) such other intensive health care services that the
Secretary determines that provision of assistance to the
veteran to obtain child care would improve access to such
health care services by the veteran.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1730A the following new item:
``1730B. Child care assistance for veterans receiving mental health
care and other intensive health care services.''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF REDUCTION IN AMOUNT OF PENSION FURNISHED
BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR CERTAIN
VETERANS COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS FOR SERVICES
FURNISHED BY NURSING FACILITIES.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting
``September 30, 2026''.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR COLLECTION OF FEES FOR
HOUSING LOANS GUARANTEED BY SECRETARY OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
(B) in clause (iv), by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2024'';
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2024'';
(3) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
(4) in subparagraph (D)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2024''.
[[Page H6539]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 95, as amended, the
Veterans' Access to Child Care Act. This bill would make the Department
of Veterans Affairs' successful pilot program to provide childcare
assistance to veterans seeking mental or other intensive healthcare
services through the VA healthcare system permanent.
I have been a ``Doctor Dad'' myself, and I know firsthand how
difficult it can be to manage childcare responsibilities on top of
everything else.
We know that the lack of childcare is a barrier to care for many
patients and that assisting veteran parents, grandparents, and
guardians in finding childcare opportunities while they are attending
VA appointments will relieve a major stress point and increase access
to care.
I am grateful to Congresswoman Julia Brownley, the ranking member of
our Subcommittee on Health, for her leadership in sponsoring the
Veterans' Access to Child Care Act.
I am proud to support this bill and urge my colleagues to do so as
well.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 95, as amended, offered by the Subcommittee
on Health Ranking Member Julia Brownley.
Mr. Speaker, to increase access, we must eliminate barriers, and this
amendment in the nature of a substitute does exactly that. The
Veterans' Access to Child Care Act assists those veterans who are also
parents to access the healthcare they need by allowing the VA to
provide childcare assistance to eligible veterans.
Representative Brownley's bill is essential to ensuring all veterans
have that access, and I appreciate her hard work to make it a reality.
I urge my colleagues to support the amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Brownley), the author of this piece of legislation.
Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Minnesota, our ranking member, and the gentleman from Tennessee, our
chairman, for their support of this bill and for their tireless
advocacy on behalf of our Nation's veterans.
I rise today in support of H.R. 95, the Veterans' Access to Child
Care Act, which will break down a barrier to care many veterans with
children face. This is especially problematic for women veterans, who
are often the primary caretakers of young children and a rapidly
growing segment of the veteran population.
According to a 2015 VA study, 42 percent of women who use the VA said
it is difficult to find childcare that would allow them to attend
medical appointments, and for those who can, that care is often
unaffordable.
The average cost of childcare in my home State of California, for
instance, is more than $13,000 a year. As the post-9/11 generation
continue to start their families, more and more veterans will face the
unacceptable choice between caring for their children and getting the
healthcare they need.
Without affordable childcare options, veterans can miss their
appointments, including critical mental health appointments, that
impact their long-term well-being. It is just common sense: better
access to childcare will lead to better access to care, which will
ultimately result in better outcomes for our Nation's veterans.
The VA currently runs a successful childcare pilot program at several
locations around the country that benefits female and male veterans of
all eras. My legislation will make that program permanent and expand it
nationwide, ensuring that no veteran will have to miss a VA health
appointment because of a lack of access of childcare.
I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Brian Higgins, for his
steadfast support of this bill and all of my colleagues on the VA
Committee who have backed this proposal every step of the way.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation
and help ensure that veterans do not have to choose between caring for
their children and getting the healthcare they need and deserve.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Again, the Chair heard the reasons for this. I thank the gentlewoman
for authoring this needed piece of legislation and urge my colleagues
to support its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all
Members to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 95, the
``Veterans' Access to Child Care Act,'' which makes permanent the VA's
Child Care Pilot Program and expands it so that all veterans who are
primary caretakers have a safe, reliable, and cost-free option for
child care when they use VA healthcare.
As the founder and chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I
fully understand the importance of having access to affordable and safe
child care.
The bill provides child care assistance to an eligible veteran for
any period that the veteran receives covered health care services at a
VA facility, and is required to travel to and return from such facility
for the receipt of such services.
My own city of Houston is home to the second largest veterans'
community in the United States in terms of resident veterans.
The U.S. Census Bureau recorded that Houston is home to approximately
282,000 veterans, which is almost one-fifth of the state's veteran
population.
The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in the city of Houston has
111,189 veterans enrolled in the center.
For these veterans in Houston and veterans across the country, H.R.
95 provides access to child care for veterans receiving mental health
services and other intensive health care services at VA facilities.
The VA reported that it had provided free childcare to 10,000
children through the pilot program and that veterans were consistently
``completely satisfied'' with the services received.
H.R. 95 ensures that veterans continue to get the care they have
earned and deserve, and that includes ensuring that those seeking
treatment at VA medical facilities do not miss appointments because
they do not have access to safe and reliable child care.
The lack of convenient and affordable child care has prevented
veterans from getting the medical care they need.
The cost of full time infant care across the United States in 2012
ranged from $4,600 to $20,200 a year.
The cost of full time care for a 4 year old ranged from $3,900 to
$15,450.
Of those seeking childcare, 89 percent were looking for full time
care and only 11 percent were looking for part-time care.
Parents who serve as the primary care taker of a child should not
have to sacrifice their own health to find safe and reliable child
care.
We must remove barriers that impede veterans' access to health care.
Currently, the Child Care Pilot Program offers free child care for
qualified veterans using VA healthcare services at a limited number of
participating sites around the United States.
Congress has reauthorized this popular pilot program three times in
separate bills, but it is time to make this program permanent.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important
legislation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 95, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
[[Page H6540]]
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