[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.