[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VA MISSION BILL
Today, Mr. President, the Senate will vote on what is called the VA
MISSION Act, which is a bipartisan bill that will reform the Veterans
Choice Program. I have heard my colleagues speak about this legislation
on the floor this morning and this afternoon, and I agree with them
that this is a positive step forward. It will expand private care
options and provide veterans in Ohio and around the country with more
choices and fewer barriers to ensure they will have the best healthcare
possible.
By the way, the bill has passed the House of Representatives already.
It passed last week, and it received more than 370 votes. That is
unusual around this place. That was out of 435, so it was a strong
majority. I look forward to its passing the Senate with a sweeping
bipartisan majority as well so it can be signed into law as soon as
possible and begin to help the veterans I represent in Ohio and around
the country.
We had another positive development for veterans last week when the
Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed a bipartisan
bill I introduced with Senator Brown that would designate the
spectacular new Veterans Memorial and Museum, in Columbus, OH, which is
scheduled to open later this year in the fall, as the National Veterans
Memorial and Museum. It will be a spectacular structure. More
importantly, it will have terrific exhibits on the inside to allow for
future generations to know about the selfless sacrifices that have been
made by so many men and women of the Armed Forces.
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus will be one
important way we will commemorate not only brave Ohioans but all
American veterans. This legislation will have been voted on by both
Houses and will be signed into law by the President, I hope, very soon.
In fact, I would love to get this bill through this body before
Memorial Day as a way to pay tribute to our veterans again.
It is not something we are asking the taxpayers to support. This
National Veterans Memorial and Museum is being supported by $75 million
that has been raised in the private sector. There is a philanthropist
in the Columbus area named Les Wexner, who has taken the lead on this
issue, but it has involved a lot of the businesses in the Greater
Columbus area as well as individuals from all around the country who
have stepped forward to say we need to have a National Veterans
Memorial and Museum and that Columbus, OH, is the right place for it.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation as we hotline it in
the U.S. Senate and try to get it done even before Memorial Day.
On this Memorial Day, as we remember those who have sacrificed their
lives for our country, let us also remember why they offered to lay
down their lives. Why? It is that this Nation under God is worth
fighting for. We are eternally grateful for their sacrifices and for
the service of all military members--those in the past, those in the
present, and those who will step forward to protect us and serve our
great country.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Toomey). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise to urge my colleagues to confirm
Brian Montgomery as Federal Housing Commissioner. The Federal Housing
Administration or FHA plays an important role in today's housing
finance market, promoting homeownership and ensuring access to
affordable mortgage credit for millions of Americans.
When FHA operates in a safe, viable manner, it can help many
deserving people gain a foothold in our housing market who otherwise
would not have been able to do so. FHA also plays a countercyclical
role in the mortgage marketplace, providing market liquidity in times
when traditional sources of home financing dry up, as they did a decade
ago.
Since 1934, the FHA has insured mortgages for more than 40 million
families. Today, the FHA is the largest mortgage insurer in the world.
It is also the primary facilitator of reverse mortgages and supports a
nationwide network of housing counseling agencies. Yet for nearly 4
years it has not had a Senate-confirmed leader.
Fortunately, the time has finally come to fill this vacancy. I know
Brian Montgomery will do a terrific job. Brian Montgomery is an ideal
candidate to take up the mantle because he has done it before.
Mr. Montgomery provided steadfast leadership at the helm of FHA
between 2005 and 2009, under Presidents Bush and Obama, during one of
the most trying times the housing markets had ever seen.
His nearly unanimous support from housing stakeholders speaks to this
strong track record of experience and expertise. Once confirmed, Mr.
Montgomery can hit the ground running, moving FHA forward in pursuit of
its continuing mission.
I look forward to continued conversations with him on opportunities
to improve America's housing finance system, which continues to be
urgently needed. I also look forward to working with him on how we can
make HUD programs more effective and more efficient, with better
stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Thirteen years ago, this body confirmed Mr. Montgomery on a voice
vote to serve as FHA Commissioner. I ask my colleagues to once again
confirm him to this critical role.
Thank you.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.