[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 82 (Friday, May 18, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H4236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PROTECTING OUR NATION'S VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2017, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, 
and Related Agencies, I am honored to fight for the veterans in my 
district and throughout the Nation. In return for their service and 
sacrifice, we owe them the best medical care that can be provided.
  I am proud that the House of Representatives has passed the VA 
MISSION Act to address these critical concerns. I commend Chairman Roe, 
Ranking Member Walz, and the members of the House Veterans' Affairs 
Committee for their work on this issue over the last year.
  This legislation will provide better community-based care without 
detracting from the outstanding medical services provided by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, such as the Central 
Texas Veterans Health Care Center in Temple, Texas, in my district.
  While I believe veterans are best served by the VA, there are also 
those who live too far from a VA facility, cannot afford a long wait 
period, or have very specific medical services that are best provided 
outside the VA system.
  The VA MISSION Act provides this community-based care option, and it 
pays for it with discretionary spending, which means Congress has more 
control, more oversight, and more responsibility.
  The VA MISSION Act includes a provision for a bill I authored, the 
Veterans Transplant Coverage Act, to ensure that no other American hero 
is denied organ transplant coverage again through the VA.
  This was inspired by the Nelson family of Leander, Texas. Mr. Nelson, 
a veteran, required a transplant. His son was a matching live donor. 
However, the VA would not cover medical costs for the donor, Mr. 
Nelson's son, even though this was a lifesaving transplant for Mr. 
Nelson. I am sorry to say that Mr. Nelson had to liquidate almost 
everything he owned to pay for the medical expenses. We could not help 
Mr. Nelson's family, but his story inspired me to work towards changing 
the law.
  When the VA MISSION Act is enacted, it will ensure future generations 
of veterans will have their transplant medical expenses, along with the 
donor's expenses, covered by the VA. We must do the right thing for our 
veterans who need these lifesaving procedures, and I am honored that 
the VA MISSION Act includes language I wrote to do just that.
  I want to publicly thank several of my colleagues on the committee: 
Dr. Neal Dunn, Dr. Brad Wenstrup, and Gus Bilirakis, my neighbor, all 
of whom championed transplant care for veterans and worked extremely 
hard to ensure this language was included in the bill.
  The VA MISSION Act is a step forward towards the goal of caring for 
our veterans. The Senate must pass this legislation, and I urge 
President Trump to quickly sign it into law. I can think of no better 
way to celebrate Memorial Day than enact the VA MISSION Act, which will 
ensure our heroes receive the best medical care available.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.

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