[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 95 (Friday, June 8, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4985-H4996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2019


                             General Leave

  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material in the further consideration of 
H.R. 5895, and that I may include tabular material on the same.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Newhouse). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 923 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, 
H.R. 5895.
  Will the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) kindly take the chair.

                              {time}  0919


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of 
the bill (H.R. 5895) making appropriations for energy and water 
development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 
30, 2019, and for other purposes, with Mr. Marshall (Acting Chair) in 
the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Acting CHAIR. When the Committee of the Whole rose on Thursday, 
June 7, 2018, amendment No. 27 printed in part B of House Report 115-
712 offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr) had been disposed 
of.


                Amendment No. 28 Offered by Mr. Carbajal

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 28 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 131, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $8,000,000)''.
       Page 132, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $8,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Carbajal) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.

[[Page H4986]]

  

  Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Chairman, my amendment seeks to provide additional 
funding for the Veterans Transportation Program, which would provide 
additional resources for the Highly Rural Transportation Grants, 
Beneficiary Travel, and Veterans Transportation Service.
  A major challenge facing veterans across the Nation, including the 
central coast of California, is the lack of access to transportation 
when trying to get their medical appointments. This is especially 
prevalent in districts like mine, where veterans don't live in close 
proximity to a major VA medical center.
  Available local transportation to health appointments at the local 
community-based outpatient clinic is a constant challenge, as there are 
an insufficient number of buses and drivers. Currently, there is only 
one bus serving my district, and this one bus must make six stops 
before reaching the VA hospital in Los Angeles. Once there, veterans 
only have a short window of time to attend to all their appointments 
before needing to rush back to the bus to catch their transportation 
home.
  In many cases, with these time constraints, veterans are unable to 
fit all of their necessary appointments into one day, and must again 
struggle with transportation to get back to the hospital.
  Passage of this amendment would provide more transportation solutions 
for our veterans, allowing them to get to their medical appointments on 
time and receive proper medical care without the fear of being left 
behind, unable to get back home.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to 
the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Texas is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, we understand the gentleman's 
concerns, and we certainly will keep them in mind during conference.
  Mr. Chair, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, in 2017, the VTP program transported a total of 557,331 
veterans, of which 103,704 were disabled veterans.
  The VTP office is the authoritative source for all veteran-related 
travel initiatives. Its core mission is to assist in the improvements 
of access to care and assist veterans in overcoming transportation 
barriers to accessing VHA services.
  VTS has established a network of transportation options for veterans 
through joint efforts with VA's Office of Rural Health and veterans 
service organizations.
  This is a valuable program that has clearly been recognized and 
highlighted by the gentleman from California, that helps veterans who 
are visually impaired, elderly, or immobilized due to disease or 
disability, and particularly those living in remote and rural areas, to 
get to their medical appointments.
  At a time with the VA where we are struggling to make sure both in 
terms of time that veterans have to wait to get an appointment and the 
difficulty in getting through a long distance to get that service, this 
is an important amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentleman from California's contribution 
and I strongly support it.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Chair, I would just appeal to my colleagues that 
``thank you for your service'' is just not enough anymore for our 
veterans. We need to step up. We need to make sure that they know we 
are here and we have their back when they need the services at the end 
of their tenure in the armed services.
  Mr. Chair, this is an important amendment. I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Carbajal).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 29 Offered by Mr. Keating

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 29 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 132, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentleman 
from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that 
would direct the VA to establish an opioid abuse kit for community 
healthcare providers.
  We are fortunate to live in a time when, because of medical 
advancements, members of the military are surviving combat injuries at 
unprecedented rates. However, our duty of care for military veterans 
does not stop there.
  As our Nation welcomes home thousands of veterans from missions all 
over the world, we must be better prepared to provide those who suffer 
from chronic pain with the help that they need. It is the 
responsibility of this Congress to do our part to ensure they are 
receiving the level of healthcare they deserve.
  According to VA data, despite the number of opioid prescriptions at 
the VA declining--and that is the good news--since 2012, the number of 
veterans with opioid use disorders has spiked 55 percent between 2011 
and 2016.
  Additionally, the American Public Health Association found that 
veterans are twice as likely to overdose on prescription opioids as the 
general population.
  The Veterans Health Administration has taken initial steps to combat 
the growing opioid crisis by rolling out its Opioid Safety Initiative 
for VA health settings, and the VA has also begun to publish toolkits 
for its community health providers so they better understand why 
veterans are looking to them for help.
  My amendment provides the resources for the VA to take their efforts 
a step further. It would direct the VA to utilize the opioid safety 
resources already available at the VA and create a similar opioid 
toolkit for healthcare providers at civilian facilities who help 
veterans with opioid use disorders. This is even more important, Mr. 
Chairman, because of the establishment of the Veterans Choice Program.
  The toolkit will provide safe prescribing practices provide 
additional resources for effective pain management, and it will 
ultimately save lives.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join with me in support of this.
  Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Wasserman Schultz).
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I support the efforts by the gentleman from Massachusetts to combat 
opioid abuse, which really has been a scourge in every region of this 
country and has left almost no region in this Nation untouched.
  The rates of prescription opioid misuse and overdose continue to 
increase sharply, and prescription opioids are now a leading cause of 
death in the United States. In fact, Mr. Chairman, we are about to 
reach the third year in a row that life expectancy in the United States 
will have gone down. That is the first time that has happened since all 
the way back to World War I, and it can be directly attributed to 
opioid abuse and the resulting deaths that has caused.
  So I agree with my friend from Massachusetts that the VA should have 
a toolkit similar to the mental health toolkit and that it could save 
lives. I support the amendment.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for her comments, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to

[[Page H4987]]

the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, this bill includes $387 million for 
opioid treatment and prevention efforts. We understand the gentleman's 
concern, and we will keep them in mind during conference.
  May I say, having been a criminal trial judge for many years, dealing 
with prescription drug abuse and treating prescription drug abuse is 
one of the hardest things we have to deal with in criminal law. There 
is something about the mental attitude towards a prescription that 
causes people to think it is safe.

                              {time}  0930

  This abuse that is going on in this country, we have to do something 
about it, so I commend the gentleman.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I know the gentleman from Texas and I will 
work together on this going forward and, hopefully, this amendment will 
move us in that direction further.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 30 Offered by Mr. Keating

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 30 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 132, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,500,000) (increased by $1,500,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentleman 
from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment that would 
direct healthcare providers with VA affiliation to continue their 
efforts at continuing education courses in specific areas to manage 
pain, opioids, and substance abuse disorders.
  Nationally, about 30 percent of Americans have some form of chronic 
pain. However, the percentage of veterans who report chronic pain is 
significantly higher. Over 50 percent of elderly veterans report 
chronic pain, as do 60 percent of veterans returning from current 
conflicts. In fact, chronic pain is the most common medical problem 
experienced by returning combat veterans over the last decade.
  Of course, pain is not a standalone problem. We are increasingly 
aware of the mental health, the hidden wounds consequences stemming 
from time in combat. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or 
brain trauma are more likely to report physical pain and, in turn, are 
more likely to receive a prescription for opioids. Likewise, 
approximately one out of every three veterans seeking treatment for a 
substance use disorder also have PTSD.
  My amendment addresses this challenge by helping those who provide 
healthcare services to veterans to learn the latest pain management 
techniques, understand safe prescribing practices, and spot the signs 
of potential behavioral health conflicts and challenges, including 
substance abuse disorders.
  Further, my amendment recognizes that VA healthcare providers already 
need continuing education credits to maintain their State-issued 
professional licenses. The amendment does not add to the total number 
of credits that prescribers already have to take. It simply makes sure 
that appropriate time is spent learning about this important issue.
  My constituents are fortunate in Massachusetts because we have State 
laws that deal with this and require that kind of continuing education 
on this matter. However, in the other part of my district, in the 
southwestern portion, most of the veterans in that area go to the Rhode 
Island veterans center and, in Rhode Island, this is not covered by the 
State.
  Healthcare professionals in Providence, Rhode Island, already have 
pain management education available, but there is no guarantee that 
they are taken. There is a recommendation, but no guarantee. My 
amendment simply makes sure that our veterans get that guarantee. I 
urge my colleagues to join in support of this amendment.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. KEATING. I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman 
Schultz).
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, pain management education for 
the prescription of opioids in the VA could help with opioid abuse; 
that is clear. The VA already has guidelines regarding the management 
of opioid therapy for chronic pain and provides clear and 
comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations incorporating current 
information and practices for practitioners throughout the DOD and the 
VA healthcare systems.
  Mr. Chairman, these guidelines are provided to minimize harm and 
increase patient safety in patients who require opioid therapy, but 
these guidelines only work if the prescriber is adequately trained. And 
that is why the gentleman from Massachusetts' amendment would be so 
helpful, because we all know that the key to making sure that we can 
reach people and maximize the effectiveness of the program is to ensure 
that the appropriate and significant training is done so that we can 
achieve those goals. So I support this amendment.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  MR. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, 
although I will not oppose this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  MR. CARTER of Texas. I understand the gentleman's concerns, and I 
will keep them in mind during conference.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, it is another area where we can keep 
working together to help veterans, and this amendment will bring us 
forward in that task.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating).
  The amendment was agreed to.


     Amendment No. 31 Offered by Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 31 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment 
at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 135, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the 
ranking member for her help on this issue.
  I appreciate the opportunity to speak about an issue that is very 
important to my constituents and, of course, to me. I began my career 
as a nurse, where I provided hands-on patient care for 15 years at the 
Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital. I actually opened the 
psychiatric service.
  I rise today regarding an issue that is prevalent in my district and, 
more likely, is coming around the country: the Department of Veterans 
Affairs delaying, sometimes for years, payments for services that have 
been authorized by the VA and performed subject to their requirements.
  Small business vendors depend on timely payments in order to pay for 
their services, pay their employees, and conduct business that they 
have agreed to perform for the price the VA has agreed to pay.
  Veterans and their care are very important to me, and one thing I 
have noticed in my career, both at the VA and

[[Page H4988]]

here in Congress, is that it is important that getting the payment, 
whatever and wherever it is owed, and whether that is the veteran, a 
physician, or a contractor, is important.
  I could talk about a number of things about the VA, but one of the 
things that is really hurting veterans is the delay of payment of 
vendors that render service.
  The other week, one of the small vendors came into my office and said 
he was still waiting for payment from 2015. These vendors, for the most 
part, offer services to the veterans away from the hospital. It should 
not take that long for them to be paid.
  It is ruining the home healthcare program because they cannot 
continue, year after year, to deliver this care without getting paid; 
and many of the small vendors have stopped servicing the veterans 
because they never see payment in sight. So that is a major issue which 
I came to speak about today.
  Fee-basis care is preapproved by the VA, and the veteran, VA 
facility, and provider are all aware of the costs of the care being 
performed. There should not be a delay in delivering payment for 
essential services provided to the veteran.
  Many of these small businesses have to file lawsuits and get 
attorneys to retrieve their money. Many of them have been put out of 
business and made up their mind they cannot service veterans because 
they cannot get paid in a timely manner. Two or 3 years late for 
payment is a long time for small businesses.
  My concern is this slow-walking of claim payments is endemic 
throughout the VA, and veterans are being held responsible for the 
delay. Not all contractors are as savvy as my constituent and might not 
know what the next step should be to resolve these issues.
  My amendment is designed to encourage the VA to report on the number 
of vendors who are being held hostage to slow payment around the 
country and how much money is being tied up in these delays. These 
small vendors cannot survive these long delays in getting paid.
  We need to know how big the problem is and how we can figure out how 
to fix it.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, 
even though I am not opposed to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Florida is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, the gentlewoman from Texas has 
identified a very important issue, one that was brought to my attention 
in sharp relief by my own hospital association just yesterday.
  In Florida, we are now the third-largest State in the Union, and the 
hospitals in my home State are owed at least $134 million in payments 
that have not been paid by the VA.
  I mean, I don't care how big your operation is, that is a tremendous 
amount of money, and prompt payment is a critical issue because we need 
to make sure that the resources that are appropriated to our healthcare 
system and the revenue that we need generated to contribute to our 
economy and the care that we need provided is done so promptly.
  What we don't want to have happen is healthcare providers deciding 
not to provide services outside the VA to VA patients. And my 
discussion with them yesterday was that there are healthcare providers 
in our State that are starting to decide not to take VA patients 
anymore, and that would be a travesty.
  The gentlewoman is absolutely correct. Waiting 2 or 3 years for 
payment--that is the kind of length of time we are talking about here--
can have a devastating impact, particularly on small business.
  It is not a new issue at the VA. For example, former Secretary David 
Shulkin started rapid response teams whose goal was to settle the most 
substantial outstanding bills as quickly as possible.
  Mr. Chairman, the issue of prompt payments must be addressed as more 
veterans seek services outside of the VA. It is a tremendous problem, 
and I am really pleased that the gentlewoman has brought it to our 
attention, raised the issue, because we need to know the full scope of 
VA delinquent payments. So I support this amendment, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I really appreciate 
the comments of the ranking member, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Chairman 
Dent agreeing to look into this issue.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 32 Offered by Mr. Connolly

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 32 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 138, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, this simple amendment to H.R. 5895 would ensure 
sufficient funds for the Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector 
General to provide rigorous oversight of the Washington, D.C., Veterans 
Affairs Medical Center, a center that has been plagued with management 
problems, many of which have been described in previous amendments here 
this morning.
  The inspector general recently concluded a year-long investigation 
into the critical deficiencies at that center. In its final report, 
issued on March 7 of this year, the IG highlighted that leadership 
failures and pervasive understaffing underpinned widespread issues in 
inventory management, sterile processing, and patient safety itself. 
These are our veterans we are talking about.
  The IG found continual mismanagement of protected information and 
significant government resources, putting them at risk for fraud, 
waste, and abuse. The report makes clear these failures have persisted 
for the better part of a decade. Entrenched problems like these will 
not be resolved overnight.

                              {time}  0945

  Following the final report's release, officials from the U.S. 
Department of Veterans Affairs briefed House Veterans Affairs' 
Committee staff that delays in patient care and supply shortages were 
no longer occurring as of January 2018.
  Yet recent reports show, contrary to that, that seven procedures were 
canceled due to supply shortages in February and March of this year, 
contrary to the Department's own claims. The VA inspector general has 
played a vital role in covering that crisis at the D.C. VA Medical 
Center, and we must ensure that the VA IG has adequate resources to 
carry out its essential mandate.
  The bill before us today meets the President's 2019 budget request of 
$172 million. However, the VA inspector general, Michael Missal, 
recently wrote that $172 million will not be sufficient for the IG to 
fully meet its mission of effective oversight of the programs and 
operations of the Veterans Administration.
  Furthermore, the IG said that an FY19 appropriation of $172 million 
would actually likely require a decrease of about 28 OIG staff. This 
could not be a worse time to have that happen, and I know the chairman 
and the ranking member share in that view.
  Across the inspector general community, the IG staffing at the VA is 
among the smallest ratio of oversight staff to agency staff, and the 
OIG budget represents less than 0.1 percent of the total Veterans 
Administration budget.
  This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to fund the IG 
at a level of $192 million for FY 2019, and I hope my colleagues will 
support that higher funding level when this bill gets to conference.

[[Page H4989]]

  We have a sacred obligation to ensure that the men and women, who 
sacrificed so much to defend our freedom, receive the highest quality 
care they can possibly receive. The IG's yearlong investigation 
revealed that the D.C. VA Medical Center has, at times, fallen far 
below that standard. We owe it to our veterans not only to address 
these problems, but also to understand how they were allowed to arise 
in the first place.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to this 
bill and to ensure the highest quality for our veterans who fought for 
their country, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, 
even though I am not in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Florida is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, you just can't make this stuff 
up. The committee members have been to the D.C. VA Medical Center, and 
they put on a nice show when I first became ranking member. They leave 
a good impression. But the documented issues at the D.C. VA Medical 
Center are well known, and I want to just walk our colleagues through a 
few of them because this is how egregious it is. The gentleman's 
suggestion through this amendment to make sure that the IG takes a very 
close look at what is going on at this medical center is critical.
  The D.C. VA Medical Center was found to have paid exorbitant amounts 
for supplies and equipment, including $300 per speculum, which could 
have been purchased for $122 each, and $900 each for a special needle 
that was available for $250. In one case, the medical center rented in-
home hospital beds for three patients for 3 years at a total cost of 
$877,000. The medical center could have bought the three beds for 
$21,000.
  A review of 124 veteran patient records found problems with supplies 
or instruments in 74 of the cases between 2014 and 2017.
  One surgery was canceled after the patient was already under 
anesthesia because a retractor was unavailable because it had not been 
sterilized since its previous use a week earlier.
  A surgeon had to improvise when a tool used to prepare a skin graft 
was broken and the graft failed. A surgical staff member had to run to 
a private sector hospital across the street to borrow mesh to repair a 
hernia midprocedure.
  Investigators received more than 1,300 boxes of unsecured records 
from two warehouses, the hospital basement, and a large trash dumpster 
in April 2017. Of those records, 81 percent contained confidential 
patient information, including medical scans and records dating back to 
the 1970s. This facility is failing the veterans in the Metro D.C. area 
who deserve better.
  This is an important amendment, and making sure that the VA takes 
care of its patients and is not negligent or derelict in its duties at 
every single place that those veterans are serviced is critical.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I would conclude simply by thanking my 
friend from Florida for detailing that horror story. Unfortunately, 
these aren't isolated incidents. This is a pattern of shoddy care for 
our veterans at this center, and we need the IG to be doing his work 
over time to make sure that these deficiencies are corrected, and 
corrected as soon as possible. That is the intent of this amendment.
  Again, I thank my friend from Texas, but I especially thank my good 
friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida for their support on this 
amendment.
  I include in the Record two letters from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs inspector general.

                                   Department of Veterans Affairs,


                                            Inspector General,

                                    Washington DC, March 23, 2018.
     Hon. Phil Roe, M.D.,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Enclosed is a response from the Office 
     of Inspector General (OIG) to a question for the record 
     received from Congressman Mike Bost following the February 
     15th hearing before the Committee on the U.S. Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2019. We 
     request that it be added to the hearing record.
       Thank you for your interest in the OIG.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael J. Missal.
       Enclosure.

Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs Response to 
  Questions for the Record From House Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
   Hearing on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for 
                            Fiscal Year 2019

       65. The budget includes a request for $172 million for the 
     Office of Inspector General to strengthen accountability. 
     Will this level of funding be sufficient to properly enforce 
     accountability throughout the VA?
       VA Office of Inspector General Response: The budget request 
     for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for fiscal year 
     (FY) 2019 of $172 million will not be sufficient for the OIG 
     to fully meet its mission of effective oversight of the 
     programs and operations of VA. While that amount would 
     represent an increase over the OIG's funding of $164 million 
     for FY 2018, it falls short of even the OIG's actual FY 2018 
     operating budget of $175.5 million (which includes $15.9 
     million of carryover due to a late hiring cycle that was out 
     of synch with the budget cycle).
       There will not be a carryover of that size for FY 2019 as 
     those funds will have been expended led primarily on new 
     hires to conduct our oversight work. In addition, we are now 
     funding our Office of Contract Review approximately $5 
     million that was previously paid by VA through a reimbursable 
     agreement, and there are other increased costs in FY 2019. 
     Consequently, an FY 2019 appropriation of $172 million would 
     require a decrease of about 28 OIG staff. This would result 
     in a likely curtailment of some of our oversight priorities 
     if OIG staffing and resources decrease at a time when VA is 
     experiencing growth, including large and complex projects 
     such as VA's new electronic health records initiative, 
     improving VA's financial systems, enhancing and consolidating 
     VA's IT systems, and expansion of community care programs. 
     The OIG will need additional funds to not only conduct 
     oversight of these costly programs, but also to expand our 
     investigations of other high-risk VA programs, such as 
     construction, procurement, education benefits, and the 
     delivery of timely and quality healthcare. The VA OIG's 
     staffing is among the smallest ratio of oversight staff to 
     agency staff across the Inspector General community. 
     Moreover, the OIG budget represents less than .1 percent of 
     VA's overall budget, which again is less than a significant 
     number of OIGs at other cabinet level agencies. An FY2019 
     appropriation of $172 million will undermine progress 
     achieved to ``right size'' the OIG oversight capacity to the 
     growth and demands of VA' new initiatives.
                                  ____

                                   Department of Veterans Affairs,


                                            Inspector General,

                                     Washington, DC, April 3 2018.
     Hon. Patty Murray,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Murray: Your question regarding the VA Office 
     of Inspector General's (OIG) budget for fiscal year (FY) 2019 
     was referred to the OIG for a response. We appreciate your 
     interest and are grateful for your support.
       The budget request for the OIG FY 2019 of $172 million will 
     not be sufficient for the OIG to fully meet its mission of 
     effective oversight of the programs and operations of VA. 
     While that amount would represent an increase over the OIG's 
     funding of $164 million for FY 2018, it falls short of even 
     the OIG's actual FY 2018 operating budget of $179.9 million 
     (which includes $15.9 million of carryover due to a late 
     hiring cycle that was out of synch with the budget cycle).
       There will not be a carryover of that size for FY 2019 as 
     those funds will have been expended primarily on new hires to 
     conduct our oversight work. In addition, we are now funding 
     our Office of Contract Review approximately $5 million that 
     was previously paid by VA through a reimbursable agreement, 
     and there are other increased costs in FY 2019. Consequently, 
     a FY 2019 appropriation of $172 million would likely require 
     a decrease of about 28 OIG staff. This would inevitably 
     result in a curtailment of some of our oversight activities 
     at a time when VA is experiencing growth, including large and 
     complex projects such as VA's new electronic health records 
     initiative, improving VA's financial systems, enhancing and 
     consolidating VA's IT systems, and expansion of community 
     care programs. The OIG will need additional funds to not only 
     conduct oversight of these costly programs, but also to 
     expand our investigations of other high-risk VA programs, 
     such as construction, procurement, education benefits, and 
     the delivery of timely and quality healthcare. The VA OIG's 
     staffing is among the smallest ratio of oversight staff to 
     agency staff across the Inspector General community. 
     Moreover, the OIG budget represents less than .1 percent of 
     VA's overall budget, which again is less than a significant 
     number of OIGs at other cabinet level agencies. A FY 2019 
     appropriation of $172 million will undermine progress 
     achieved to ``right size'' the OIG oversight capacity to 
     match the growth and demands of VA's new initiatives.
       We will provide a copy of this letter to Chairman Isakson 
     and request that it be made part of the hearing record.

[[Page H4990]]

       Again, thank you for interest and support of the OIG.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael J. Missal.

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, the gentleman deserves credit for 
bringing this to the House's attention. The outrage at this medical 
center speaks for itself, and I look forward to making sure that the IG 
has the resources that are needed to be able to get to the bottom to 
help fix this problem.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).
  The amendment was agreed to.


              Amendment No. 33 Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 33 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of division C (before the short title), insert 
     the following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in contravention 
     of subchapter III of chapter 20 of title 38, United States 
     Code.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, my first order of business is to thank 
both Judge Carter and Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for their 
leadership and, as well, for their shepherding this bill that is based 
and focused on help for our veterans.
  This past month and coming into the Fourth of July and Veterans Day 
in November may be just one or two or three of the times that we 
acknowledge those who have fallen as well as our veterans, but it 
really is a responsibility of this country and this Congress to 
acknowledge and work on behalf of our veterans every single day.
  I hold up a picture of and will include in the Record an article 
about Army Veteran Vivian Unce, Navy veteran Victoria Lewis, and Navy 
veteran Veronica Vernon. They met each other in a homeless shelter. 
They have come to know each other, and I would say to Mr. Chairman 
there are homeless veterans every night across this country.

                         [Wed., July 20, 2011]

  Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center--Houston, Texas Grant Provides 
      More Than $666K for Permanent Housing for Homeless Veterans

       Houston.--The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced 
     the award of $666,765 to the Harris County Housing Authority 
     to increase permanent housing and case management for area 
     Veterans.
       ``This initiative will strengthen our ongoing efforts to 
     eliminate Veteran homelessness and improve quality of life 
     for Veterans,'' said Adam C. Walmus, M.H.A., M.A., 
     F.A.C.H.E., director of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical 
     Center. ``Working with our partners at HUD, we continue to 
     make good progress to reduce Veteran homelessness, though 
     much work remains. VA is committed to providing Veterans and 
     their families with access to affordable housing and medical 
     services that will help them get back on their feet.''
       The funding, from Housing and Urban Development's Veterans 
     Affairs Supportive Housing program (HUD-VASH), is a 
     coordinated effort by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to 
     provide permanent housing for homeless Veterans.
       Homeless Veterans are referred to the Harris County Housing 
     Authority for ``Housing Choice'' Section 8 vouchers to assist 
     with rent payment. With this latest grant, the Harris County 
     Housing Authority will receive 125 additional housing 
     vouchers.
       Eligible homeless Veterans receive VA-provided case 
     management, and services to support stability and recovery 
     from physical and mental health, substance use, and 
     functional concerns contributing to or resulting from 
     homelessness.
       Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent 
     privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 
     30 percent of their income toward rent. VA offers eligible 
     homeless Veterans clinical and supportive services through 
     the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.
       About one-third of the adult homeless population has served 
     their country in the Armed Services.
       Current population estimates suggest that about 107,000 
     Veterans (male and female) are homeless on any given night 
     and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some 
     point during the course of a year.
       Many other Veterans are considered near homeless or at risk 
     because of their poverty, lack of support from family and 
     friends, and dismal living conditions in cheap hotels or in 
     overcrowded or substandard housing.
       If you know a Veteran who needs assistance, please call 1-
     877-4AID VET (877-424-3838) or the Health Care for Homeless 
     Veterans Program at 713-794-7848. More information about VA's 
     homeless programs is available online at http://www.va.gov/
 homeless.

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, my amendment is an amendment to ensure 
that we will focus the VA on its obligation to provide our veterans the 
assistance needed to avoid homelessness. It will help to ensure the 
rate of homelessness among veterans in the United States does not 
increase, because I believe in reducing and eliminating homelessness 
among veterans. Those who risked their lives to protect our freedom 
should also be one of the Nation's highest priorities.
  I am grateful that this particular legislation, likewise, recognizes 
the importance of dealing with homelessness and working with the VA and 
its public housing assistance. That is where these individuals were 
able to find housing, through the grant for the permanent housing for 
homeless veterans.
  It is important to recognize that perhaps twice as many, 200,000, 
experience homelessness at some point during the course of the year. 
Today, in our country, there are approximately 107,000 veterans, male 
and female, who are homeless on any given night, even though 
communities are working very hard.
  I know in my hometown of Houston, we work hard to reduce the numbers 
of homeless veterans. Many of us work with homeless veterans, attend 
what we call stand down, where we provide them with the maximum support 
on the street. We want them to get off the street, but we want to bring 
the services to them. In 2012 alone, 35,905 veterans lived in public 
housing provided by the VASH program.
  So I want to continue this focus, and this amendment is to suggest 
that no matters in this bill, no language in this bill will be in 
contravention of our programs that deal with our homeless veterans.
  Let me also make the point that Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center 
has been involved in changing lives in a mighty way by providing 
veterans and their families with access to affordable housing and 
medical services that would help to get them back on their feet.
  I had the privilege of knowing Dr. Michael E. DeBakey and naming the 
hospital after him. His whole value and his whole purpose as he 
continued to do magical surgery was to remind us, as he created the 
MASH unit in World War II, that our veterans yesterday, today, and 
tomorrow should be our priority.
  Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, it is Jackson Lee 
Amendment No. 33, which simply provides that:
  ``None of the funds made available by this Act for the Department of 
Veteran Affairs--Benefits for Homeless Veterans and Training and 
Outreach Programs may be used in contravention of the title 38, Part 
II, Chapter 20, Subchapter II and III of the U.S. Code.
  This amendment will help ensure that the rate of homelessness among 
veterans in the United States does not increase.
  I thank Subcommittee Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member Wasserman 
Schultz for their hard work in shepherding this important legislation 
to the floor.
  I offer Jackson Lee Amendment No. 33 because I believe reducing and 
eliminating homelessness among veterans, those who risked their lives 
to protect our freedom, should also be one of the nation's highest 
priorities.
  Homelessness among the American veteran population is on the rise in 
the United States and we must be proactive in giving back to those who 
have given so much to us.
  Jackson Lee Amendment No. 33 will help focus the VA on its obligation 
to provide our veterans the assistance needed to avoid homelessness, 
which includes adequately funding for programs Veterans Administration 
Supportive Housing (VASH) that provide case-management services, 
adequate housing facilities, mental health support, and address other 
areas that contribute to veteran homelessness.
  VASH is a jointly-administered permanent supportive housing program 
for disabled Veterans experiencing homelessness in which VA

[[Page H4991]]

medical Centers provide referrals and case management while Public 
Housing Agencies (PHAs) administer the Section 8 housing vouchers.
  Mr. Chair, our veterans deserve the best services available, and I 
believe that we could be doing much more for them.
  Today, in our country, there are approximately 107,000 veterans (male 
and female) who are homeless on any given night.
  And perhaps twice as many (200,000) experience homelessness at some 
point during the course of a year.
  Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk because 
of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and dismal 
living conditions in cheap hotels or in overcrowded or substandard 
housing.
  While significant progress has been made, ending homelessness among 
veterans remains a big challenge.
  In my hometown of Houston for example, between the years 2010 and 
2017, the number of homeless veterans increased from 771 to 1,162.
  We must remain vigilant and continue to fight for those who put on 
the uniform and fought for us.
  Providing a home for veterans to come home to every night is the very 
least we can do.
  Mr. Chair, programs like VASH have succeeded in changing lives.
  In 2012 alone, 35,905 veterans lived in the public housing provided 
by VASH.
  I have seen the impact of such grants in my home state of Texas, and 
within my congressional district in Houston, and I am sure that this 
funding has positively impacted many communities across this country.
  In Texas, there are committed groups in Houston, working to eradicate 
the issue of homelessness.
  For example, the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center has been 
involved in changing veterans' lives in a mighty way by providing 
Veterans and their families with access to affordable housing and 
medical services that will help them get back on their feet.
  Mr. Chair, we cannot let this issue of homelessness continue.
  I urge my colleagues to support Jackson Lee Amendment No. 33 and 
commit ourselves to the hard but necessary work of ending veteran 
homelessness in America.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, 
although I don't intend to oppose this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, we understand and commend the 
gentlewoman's concern about safeguarding the homeless programs. Looking 
at what we have done, we have gotten in this bill $7.4 billion in 
homeless veterans' treatment services, housing, and job training, and 
we certainly are going to keep in mind, when we go to conference, what 
the gentlewoman has presented us here today.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me again express my appreciation.
  As I indicated, there is a very solid and strong stand on this bill 
regarding providing for our homeless veterans. It is something that we 
contend with in our city of Houston, but we are grateful that the local 
officials are very concerned about it.
  I want to make sure as we go to conference that our focus will 
continue to be on making sure that maybe in our lifetime we extinguish 
this concept of homeless veterans and homelessness among veterans by 
providing them with a pathway to opportunity and success.
  So I ask my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  The amendment was agreed to.


              Amendment No. 34 Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 34 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of division C (before the short title), insert 
     the following:
       Sec. __.  The amounts otherwise provided by this Act are 
     revised by reducing the amount made available for 
     ``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental 
     Administration--Information Technology Systems'' (and the 
     amount specified under such heading for operations and 
     maintenance), and by increasing the amount made available in 
     fiscal year 2019 for ``Veterans Health Administration--
     Medical Services'', by $2,500,000 and $2,000,000, 
     respectively.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me explain the Jackson Lee 
amendment, which makes a modest but important improvement to the bill 
by increasing the amount of funding for the supportive services for 
veterans' families account by $2 million, offset by a certain amount to 
the $4 billion allocated to the VA's information technology systems.
  Let me read a story that talks about Liz, who is an Army veteran and 
a single mom:

       After losing her job, she struggled to pay the rent and 
     provide for her daughter. Liz's landlord said she had always 
     been an excellent tenant, but his patience was wearing thin 
     as her recent rent arrears continued to increase. 
     Disheartened with a fruitless job search and unsure where 
     else to turn, Liz came to the Veterans Outreach Center. She 
     was immediately connected with a case manager, an employment 
     specialist, and an accredited State benefits counselor, and 
     the Supportive Services for Veteran Families team.

  I include in the Record an article about Liz.

                      ``Heroism Knows no Gender''

       Liz is an Army Veteran and a single mom. After losing her 
     job, she struggled to pay the rent and provide for her 
     daughter. Liz's landlord said she had always been an 
     excellent tenant but his patience was wearing thin as her 
     rent arrears continued to increase. Disheartened with a 
     fruitless job search and unsure of where else to turn, Liz 
     came to the Veterans Outreach Center (VOC). She was 
     immediately connected with a Case Manager, an Employment 
     Specialist, an Accredited State Veterans Benefits Counselor, 
     and the SSVF team.
       In order to avoid the immediate crisis of homelessness, the 
     Services To Enable Positive Solutions (S.T.E.P.S) program at 
     the VOC paid Liz's rent arrears, which had escalated to an 
     amount that was insurmountable. Within a few short days of 
     connecting with the team at VOC, Liz had a job interview that 
     resulted in full-time, meaningful employment. In less than a 
     week, she had a benefits review with an on-site counselor 
     from the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs during 
     which she applied for an increase in disability compensation. 
     The payment of Liz's back rent allowed her and her daughter 
     to keep a roof over their head. With a roof over their heads 
     and their living situation stabilized, Liz was able to focus 
     on her employment and securing her benefits, which are both 
     components of an Individual Development Plan (IDP) that will 
     help Liz sustain permanent housing in the future.
       The VOC was able to stabilize Liz and her daughter while 
     concurrently providing the supportive services necessary for 
     her to maintain permanent housing. The temporary financial 
     assistance was delivered to the landlord in a timely, 
     efficient manner with the help of a S.T.E.P.S collaborative 
     partner. Through coordinated case management, the 
     aforementioned supportive services were provided quickly and 
     effectively. The longterm result of this effort is yet to be 
     determined, but at the 90-day benchmark, Liz has retained 
     both her job and her home. She has realized this goal 
     independently, without requesting any additional financial 
     assistance. Consequently, the VOC was able to better the 
     lives of a mom (a Veteran) and her child immeasurably through 
     SSVF funding.

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. This is a very conspicuous and daily occurrence that 
happens where our veterans are able to go to a supportive team that 
understands their service, appreciates their plight, and works to help 
them so that they do not go into the cycle of homelessness.
  I think it is particularly important when we think about veterans and 
their families. They are many times single parents, many times disabled 
or with family concerns, mental health needs, and these services that 
are provided include healthcare, daily living, legal services, 
fiduciary and payee services, personal financial planning, childcare, 
transportation, and housing counseling.
  Veterans like the Air Force veteran who, hoping to utilize the skills 
he learned in the service, instead bounced from job to job after being 
discharged, found himself sleeping at night on the cold cement under a 
bridge in Chicago. But, of course, he was able to get the

[[Page H4992]]

support from our veterans support services.
  This is, again, a valuable statement made by this legislation, and I 
ask my colleagues to continue to support the services given by this 
particular program.
  Again, I hope that we will see the end of homelessness among our 
veterans and the increase in support services to help them in their 
pathway to success.
  Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
amendment, although I do not oppose the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1000

  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, our bill includes $340 million for 
the Supportive Services for Veteran Family Program, which is $20 
million above the President's budget request. But we understand the 
gentlewoman's concerns and we will certainly keep them in mind in 
conference.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me close by acknowledging and 
thanking the chairman and ranking member again for their leadership on 
this bill and to remind my colleagues that there are a series of 
stories of veterans who really needed these services.
  Katie, an SSVF caseworker at the Salvation Army Bismarck, received a 
call from a veteran named Cherie. Cherie was referred by the family 
assistance adviser at the military service center in Bismarck. 
According to Cherie, she didn't know the Salvation Army had the 
veterans program until she inquired for help.
  Cherie approached them. She had suffered a head injury resulting in a 
3-inch blood clot, skull fracture, severe concussion. In short, she 
suffered traumatic brain injury. While on unpaid medical leave via 
physician's orders, she was terminated from her employer.
  This is the kind of devastating news that will be heard from veterans 
who will seek and receive this kind of help.
  Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record articles explaining the plight 
of a veteran in Bismarck:

How the Salvation Army Helped a Mother and Her Children Keep Their Home

       On December 20, 2011, Katie, an SSVF Caseworker at the 
     Salvation Army Bismarck Corps, received a call from a Veteran 
     named Cherie. Cherie was referred by the Family Assistance 
     Advisor at the Military Service Center in Bismarck, ND. 
     According to Cherie, she ``didn't know the Salvation Army had 
     the Veterans program until [she] required help.'' Cherie 
     approached the SSVF program because on November 19th, she 
     suffered a head injury resulting in a 3-inch blood clot, 
     skull fracture and a severe concussion; in short, she 
     suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). While on unpaid 
     medical leave via physician's orders, she was terminated from 
     her employer. A single mother of two, her biggest concern was 
     maintaining her current residency.
       On December 21st, when Cherie met with Katie, she was very 
     emotional and had difficulty processing her thoughts. She was 
     extremely overwhelmed with how to pay for her rent and 
     utilities and provide for her children while unemployed. 
     Katie provided emotional support as well as resources for a 
     food box, an application for food stamps through the county, 
     contact information for a Veterans employment team 
     representative and lastly, information about a support group 
     for women Veterans in the Bismarck community. In Cherie's own 
     words, ``The SSVF assistance provided peace of mind and 
     helped keep me on my feet, especially with having kids. Katie 
     has been such a calming influence, good about following up 
     and very supportive.''
       Since Cherie has been involved with the Salvation Army, she 
     has been able to focus on recovering from her TBI, has found 
     temporary full-time employment for which permanent placement 
     is promising, and is able to provide for her children and 
     keep a roof over their heads. She's also spreading the word 
     to fellow Veterans throughout the state about the SSVF 
     program.

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. I ask my colleagues to support the program overall 
and my amendment.
  Mr. Chair, thank you for this opportunity to briefly explain Jackson 
Lee Amendment No. 34.
  Before I begin, let me express my appreciation and thanks to good 
friends, Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, for 
their hard and constructive work in shepherding this legislation to the 
floor.
  Chairman Calvert and I have worked together constructively for many 
years and he has always distinguished himself as one of the more 
bipartisan members of the House.
  And Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz has for years been one of the 
ablest Members of this body; I thank them both for their commitment to 
the important work of ensuring that our veterans receive the care and 
support they have earned from a grateful nation.
  Jackson Lee Amendment No. 34 makes a modest but important improvement 
to the bill by increasing the amount of funding for the ``Supportive 
Services for Veterans' Families'' account by $2 million, offset by a 
reduction of $2.5 million to the $4 billion allocated to the VA's 
``Information Technology Systems'' account.
  Today, in our country, there are approximately 107,000 veterans (male 
and female) who are homeless on any given night.
  Any perhaps twice as many (200,000) experience homelessness at some 
point during the course of a year.
  The VA's ``Supportive Services for Veterans' Families'' Program helps 
veterans, and their families, who may have fallen on hard times or hit 
a rough patch in life and need a little help from the country they 
selflessly risked their life to defend.
  Homeless veterans or veterans facing homelessness who have minor age 
children are in need of special programs that allow housing that 
welcomes children.
  Jackson Lee Amendment No. 34 will enable this vital program to serve 
more veterans' families in need of help by provide a bit more funding 
for grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer 
cooperatives that provide supportive services to very low-income 
veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing.
  The SSVF Program ensures that eligible veteran families receive the 
outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining VA and other 
benefits.
  These services may include health care, daily living, legal services, 
fiduciary and payee services, personal financial planning, child care, 
transportation, housing counseling.
  The SSVF Program enables VA staff and local homeless service 
providers to work together to effectively address the unique challenges 
that make it difficult for some veterans and their families to remain 
stably housed.
  Many homeless veterans, including in my own state of Texas, lack 
housing because they lost their job or could no longer afford rent; 
many suffer from an untreated mental illness that keeps them from 
working.
  Every day the SSVF program makes a real difference in the lives of 
real people.
  Veterans like the Air Force veteran who, hoping to utilize the skills 
he learned in the service, instead bounced from job to job after being 
discharged and found himself sleeping at night on the cold cement under 
a bridge in Chicago.
  Through the Thresholds Veterans Project, funded through the SSVF, 
this hero received steady community service support and eventually was 
placed in his own studio apartment.
  He now says, in his own words: I have a home. I enjoy bein' inside.''
  Veterans like the one in Texas who because he lost his job at a 
manufacturing plant and was unable to pay the bills, was forced to seek 
shelter for himself and his family at a homeless shelter.
  Fortunately, the homeless shelter was a SSVF grantee and was able to 
assist the veteran obtain employment and his family in securing 
affordable low-cost housing.
  There are thousands of similar success stories made possible by the 
SSVF Program that I could share but all of them share a common theme: 
they involve veterans who served their country proudly, fell down on 
their luck, picked themselves back up, and found affordable and 
sustainable housing for their families because of the assistance and 
support made possible by the SSVF program.
  Ensuring that veterans have a place of their own to call home is the 
very least we can do.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee Amendment and commit 
ourselves to the hard but necessary work of ending veteran homelessness 
in America.
  I urge my colleagues to support Jackson Lee Amendment No. 34.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 35 Offered by Mr. Walberg

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 35 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:


[[Page H4993]]


  

       At the end of division C (before the short title), insert 
     the following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement, 
     administer, or enforce section 17.3240 of title 38, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, as proposed in 82 Fed. Reg. 48018 
     (October 16, 2017).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my commonsense 
amendment to ensure our Nation's injured and amputee veterans will 
continue to have the ability to choose the orthotist or prosthetist 
that best meets his or her healthcare needs, whether that practitioner 
is a VA employee or a VA-contracted provider.
  The VA currently is proposing a rule that I fear will reverse a 
decades-old policy of allowing injured and amputee veterans to choose 
who provides their artificial limbs and orthotic braces. The VA would 
have the sole authority to make what they describe as this 
``administrative business decision.''
  But choice of provider is a clinical decision and an important 
patient protection. These men and women have sacrificed greatly for our 
country and it is imperative we do everything we can to make sure they 
receive the timely and patient-centered healthcare they have earned and 
deserve.
  O&P care is very intimate and specialized, and the correct 
practitioner for that veteran makes all the difference in the lifestyle 
the veteran leads. We should do everything we can do in our power to 
make the often difficult and frustrating transition from service to 
civilian life as easy as possible, especially when veterans have 
incurred a disabling condition.
  This has been a very important issue to me, and I would like to take 
the time to thank my colleague, Representative Rutherford, for working 
with me on this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I would also like to thank both the Appropriations 
Committee and the Veterans' Affairs Committee for working with me on 
this important and timely issue.
  Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and empower 
our veterans in making their personal healthcare decisions, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
amendment, although I do not oppose the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, we understand that to allay 
concerns regarding this proposed rule, the VA is planning to propose a 
supplemental rule to amend it. But we will monitor the situation. As we 
move to conference with the Senate, we will keep this in mind and be 
glad to work the gentleman.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for his commitment 
and I certainly respect his position and that he will carry that out. I 
have legislation to do this, but this is the opportunity to at least 
make the point and give some certainty to our veterans that their care 
has and will be taken in deep and grateful consideration.
  Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and 
empower our veterans in making their personal healthcare decisions, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 36 Offered by Ms. Eshoo

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 36 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of division C (before the short title) insert 
     the following new section:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this division may be used to convey the 17.1 
     acres of land and the 126 existing housing units known as 
     Shenandoah Square and located in Mountain View, California.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Eshoo) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, this amendment will prevent the Army from 
moving forward with its plan to sell 17 acres of Federal land and 126 
military housing units known as Shenandoah Square in the heart of my 
congressional district.
  Shenandoah Square is located next to Moffett Federal Airfield in 
Mountain View, California, and houses 108 military and civilian 
families serving in the Air National Guard, the Army National Guard, 
the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Marine Corps.
  Established in 2004, Shenandoah Square is part of the California 
Military Communities privatized military housing entity, which consists 
of 2,900 homes located at Fort Irwin, Camp Parks, Moffett Federal 
Airfield, and Shenandoah Square.
  This entity is overleveraged and is in hundreds of millions of 
dollars in debt because of the Army's decision to overinvest in housing 
at Fort Irwin that assumed greater than realized gains in the Basic 
Housing Allowance provided to servicemembers.
  Now the Army is justifying its sale of Shenandoah Square on the 
grounds that there is declining demand for military housing in the bay 
area, but this is hardly the case. In fact, it is absurd.
  I have met with the families and servicemembers living at Shenandoah 
Square who serve in the region with the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, 
Navy, and the Coast Guard. The residents have consistently raised 
concerns that the property management company contracted by the Army 
has been working to drive out the remaining military personnel living 
in the Shenandoah complex to artificially depress military demand for 
housing to justify its decision to sell the land.
  My Silicon Valley district is facing one of the most severe housing 
crises in the country, and the 17 acres of land that Shenandoah sits on 
is some of the most valuable in our entire country. Clearly, the Army 
is selling Shenandoah Square to pay down the debt it created and keep 
the California Military Communities entity from going bankrupt. This is 
really wrong and does a huge disservice to the military families living 
in this housing.
  This House is already on record expressing concerns about the Army's 
plans to sell Shenandoah Square. I offered an amendment to the National 
Defense Authorization Act for 2019 expressing the sense of Congress 
that the Army should explore all possible alternatives to a sale, 
including subleasing the property to an entity that can better develop 
affordable housing on the property, and the amendment was adopted by a 
voice vote.
  The Army can pursue a win-win situation by subleasing this land to 
one of the many willing partners in Silicon Valley seeking to develop 
housing and generate a regular stream of income to make this LLC whole 
again, but they refuse to.
  Mr. Chairman, I want to make something very clear. I would support 
new housing for our military families if they included our military 
families. They are offering housing for 8 families, when we have 109. I 
think that this is really unacceptable.
  We can't allow military families to be left without housing as they 
serve our country in one of the most expensive housing markets in the 
country. That is why I urge my colleagues to do the right thing and 
support this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, 
although I will not oppose the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Byrne). Without objection, the gentleman is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, the FY2018 omnibus included report 
language asking the Army to look at alternatives for conveying this 
property. We have yet to receive this report. This amendment has no 
effect, as

[[Page H4994]]

the underlying bill does not include any funding for the conveyance of 
this property.
  Mr. Chairman, for that reason, I will not oppose the amendment, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman. I urge my colleagues 
to support my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 37 Offered by Mr. Peters

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 37 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of division C (before the short title), insert 
     the following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transfer 
     funds made available for the following programs:
       (1) The Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem program.
       (2) The Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans program.
       (3) The Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.
       (4) The Department of Housing and Urban Development 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) 
     programs.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Peters) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to 
division C of the Appropriations bill related to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  In September 2017, the VA issued a plan to shift funding away from 
programs that helped homeless veterans. After national outcry, the 
proposal was tabled, but that attempt is the reason for my amendment.
  Its goal is simple: It prohibits taking funding from VA programs that 
provide services to homeless veterans, including the Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem program, a clinical rehabilitation and treatment 
program, the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, and HUD-
VASH housing vouchers.
  Congress has made money available in a bipartisan way to reduce 
homelessness for veterans. It is unconscionable that the VA would use 
funds specifically intended for that purpose on another purpose.
  San Diego County has the third-largest veterans population 
nationwide, behind Los Angeles and Maricopa Counties. This is why, 
since being elected, I have worked with my colleagues to provide more 
funding and services to veterans who are homeless or at risk of 
becoming homeless. I have furthered this work over the last year and a 
half as a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  These vets took an oath to protect our country, and now America must 
keep its promise to take care of them. They should not be struggling, 
and they most certainly should not be living on the streets.
  San Diego has achieved some progress in getting vets off the streets 
and into housing in recent years. Other cities, like Salt Lake City, 
New Orleans, and Houston, have reached functional zero, which means 
that homelessness among veterans is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. But 
across the country, the problem is still far too prevalent.
  I ask my colleagues to support this amendment that will help protect 
valuable resources that our veterans desperately need, and I look 
forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
fund veterans homelessness programs and to make sure that Federal 
dollars committed to that purpose are used for that important need.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, 
although I do not oppose the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Florida is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, the committee opposed the 
Department's tentative decision last fall to convert almost a billion 
dollars of funding for homeless programs from special purpose funding 
to general purpose funding.
  This action would have been a fundamental change to the manner in 
which medical care funding is allocated to the field, and I support 
giving more local flexibility to Veterans Integrated Service Networks 
and medical center directors.

                              {time}  1015

  However, I strongly support transparency when it comes to changing 
the levels that Congress sets for VA programs.
  We are the appropriations institution. We are the ones that make 
those decisions. The proposed realignment by VA would have potentially 
risked funding for essential programs such as the Supportive Services 
for Veteran Families Program.
  Thankfully, after numerous discussions with the committee and public 
outrage, the Department decided not to move forward with its proposal 
in FY18. We fully expect for the VA to comply with the levels that we 
set for programs; and if the levels need to be adjusted, then the VA 
must consult with Congress before making changes.
  I thank the gentleman from California for his amendment, and I 
believe it sends a strong message to the Department that it must 
respect congressional priorities.
  I urge all Members to support the gentleman's amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Peters).
  The amendment was agreed to.


               Amendment No. 38 Offered by Mr. Ratcliffe

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 38 
printed in part B of House Report 115-712.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of division C (before the short title) insert 
     the following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to propose, plan for, or execute a new or additional 
     Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 923, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank Chairman Carter and 
Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for their hard work on behalf of the 
63,000 veterans in my district, as well as servicemembers and veterans 
across the country.
  Mr. Chairman, I am grateful to once again have the opportunity to 
offer this important amendment, which would simply prohibit any funds 
made available in this act from being used to propose, to plan for, or 
to execute a new or additional round of BRAC.
  Mr. Chairman, I am privileged to represent the Fourth Congressional 
District of Texas, which is home to the Red River Army Depot. The Depot 
has supported the warfighter since 1941; and although the Depot 
community has weathered a lot of changes over the years, its commitment 
to mission has remained the same. On the placards inside of every 
vehicle are the words ``We build it as if our lives depend on it. 
Theirs do.''
  The Depot is a vital job creator in northeast Texas, and it is a 
critical component, Mr. Chairman, of our national defense. In this 
fiscal environment, we have to be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars 
and focus our limited resources on addressing critical national 
security objectives and our military readiness. Having another round of 
BRAC simply won't help us achieve this goal.
  To that point, the Government Accountability Office said that the 
last round of BRAC back in 2005 cost the American taxpayers over $35 
billion, which was 67 percent more than the original cost estimate.
  Starting another round of BRAC would weaken our capabilities while

[[Page H4995]]

increasing our vulnerabilities in the face of critical threats facing 
our Nation right now.
  I would like to thank my colleagues who have supported this important 
amendment for the past 3 years, and I look forward to having this 
amendment included in the MILCON-VA appropriations bill.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to 
the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I do oppose this amendment. I, like 
many Members, have concerns and share the gentleman's concerns about 
another round of BRAC. I realize that this is a complex issue for all 
Members of Congress, especially those with military facilities in their 
district.
  I know that previous rounds of BRAC have ended up being far more 
expensive and expansive than we were initially led to believe. However, 
I have concerns about maintaining the infrastructure that the 
Department of Defense doesn't need. For example, the estimate of excess 
capacity for the Army is 22 percent. The Air Force's estimate of excess 
capacity is roughly 30 percent.
  I can tell you that, since I became the ranking member of this 
subcommittee, when I have traveled around the world, almost to a 
person, when we have spoken to a leader on a military base, they raise 
the issue of needing to go through another round of BRAC. Both the Army 
and the Air Force are strong supporters of another BRAC round.
  While this amendment has no real effect, it does send a message that 
Congress is unwilling to tackle a tough issue. This amendment is an 
abdication of our duties as Members of this House to ensure taxpayer 
resources are being used in a wise and fiscally responsible way. 
Therefore, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and have a 
serious conversation about another BRAC round.
  While I am not suggesting that we support another BRAC round, we 
should not be tying our hands by taking it off the table.
  Mr. Chair, I urge Members to oppose the amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chair, I yield to my colleague from Texas, 
Chairman Carter.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the 
gentleman's amendment. I want to reassure my fellow Texans that this 
subcommittee is committed to protecting the installations in the great 
State of Texas, and I will be on top of that.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, just to reiterate, we shouldn't be 
taking any method that gives us an opportunity to be fiscally 
responsible and save money off the table.
  Our friends on the other side of the aisle consistently talk a good 
game about being fiscally responsible, blow holes in the deficit by 
passing massive tax scam legislation of a $1.5 trillion deficit 
expansion, and include amendments like this one that prevent the 
military, who have asked repeatedly to be able to at least engage in a 
discussion about another BRAC round, to save millions of dollars and 
close facilities that are no longer needed. Yet, the last several 
years, the majority has refused to make the tough decisions and at 
least have a discussion about this.
  It is not responsible. Certainly not fiscally responsible. Mr. Chair, 
I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, as we complete debate on these three 
bills and these amendments, I would like to say a few words in closing.
  I know I join my ranking member, Mrs. Lowey, in thanking our 
colleagues for the very constructive and civil debate over the last 
couple of days. I thank the chairman, certainly Judge Carter, as well 
as Ms. Wasserman Schultz and their counterparts for the other two 
bills, for being involved in work products that have been part of an 
open and collaborative process.
  The Appropriations Committee received over 57,000 Member requests to 
our database and through our Member Day hearings, the majority of which 
are reflected in the bills that have been discussed over the last 
couple of days.
  Secondly, now Members have the opportunity to further make their mark 
through the amendment process on the floor. The result, after two days 
here, is that we have legislation that truly represents the priorities 
of the American people. These priorities include caring for our 
veterans, our troops, and their families; rebuilding our Armed Forces; 
sustaining our national defense; and investing in essential 
infrastructure that grows our economy and creates jobs.
  I urge all of my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, to 
support these bills. These are bills that fund Federal programs that 
all Americans, especially our veterans and our troops, rely on to keep 
themselves safe, protect their lives and livelihoods, and preserve our 
Nation's ideals. These are programs that all of us can support.
  H.R. 5895 begins the 2019 appropriations process on a strong footing 
and fulfills our commitment to the American people that we will get our 
work done on their behalf, and I urge my colleagues to pass the bill as 
we go ahead to vote in the near future.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 39 will 
not be offered.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Ranking Member 
Lowey, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the chairman of 
the full committee and our ranking member, Mrs. Lowey, for the 
incredible work that they have done to get us to this point.
  While in the minority we have had some concerns about the process, 
the opportunity to work closely side by side with our colleagues, the 
opportunity that I had to work with Chairman Dent and looking forward 
to working with Chairman Carter, is really an example of how we should 
be working together throughout the entire legislative process.
  I want to thank our staff for doing a remarkable job on this work 
product, and I look forward to continuing to conference.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Ranking Member Lowey, I 
move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from California is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chair, I acknowledge the work of the appropriators. 
As an appropriator myself, I have great respect for the work that they 
do. But I have concerns about the bill that is before us on the floor 
today.
  Mr. Chair, as you know, a budget should be a statement of our 
national values. What is important to us as a Nation should be how we 
allocate our resources in that budget, and its manifestations in terms 
of appropriations bills should not be doing harm. This is really a 
partisan spending bill that tramples over some of our American values, 
gutting smart investments in our economy, hurting Americans' health, 
and endangering families.
  The Republicans are pushing forward a minibus appropriations bill 
that fails to protect the interests of the American people.
  Many of us have been attracted to the political process--as moms, as 
parents--to effect public policy to promote the well-being of our 
children in ways that are beyond our own control. We can give them all 
the love, attention, and care, but we cannot guarantee the quality of 
air that they breathe, the cleanliness of the water that they drink, 
and the world in which they live in terms of the environment.

[[Page H4996]]

  So I have very serious concerns about the danger posed in the Energy 
and Water portion of this bill. It cuts vital clean energy initiatives, 
even as gas prices surge because of the President's reckless policies. 
It attacks job-creating investments in transformational energy 
technologies and slashes funding for critical nuclear nonproliferation 
priorities.
  In terms of the children of whom I spoke earlier, this GOP bill also 
includes unacceptable poison pill riders that permit deadly firearms to 
be carried on public land, assaults the clean water our children drink, 
encourages pollution of our oceans, and pushes our Nation's already 
endangered species toward extinction.
  This bad bill is a first step in the Republicans' plan to choke off 
funding--and this is really the critical part of it for me--for vital 
Democratic priorities for America's families later in the 
appropriations process. It paves the way for their plan to starve key 
investments in health, education, and good-paying jobs for communities 
across the country.
  Mr. Chairman, the Republicans are wasting everyone's time when we 
should be focused on meeting the urgent needs of the American people. 
The majority has spent this entire Congress stacking the deck for 
special interests, as they do in these poison pills in this bill, while 
undermining the interests of families.
  The Democrats are focusing on what matters in the lives of the 
American people. We are committed to giving the American people A 
Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Pay, Better Future; and for our 
children, not to promote air pollution, which is what this bill would 
do, but to eliminate it.
  I urge my colleagues to join in voting ``no'' on this bill for our 
economy. You know what the sad part of it is: it is so close to doing a 
better job for the American people. The poison pills take it in a bad 
direction. The process under which it was put forth is harmful to other 
priorities that I know we share in a bipartisan way across the aisle.
  Hopefully we can work more closely as we go forward in a bipartisan 
way. That is the tradition of the Appropriations Committee.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, with all due respect to the minority 
leader, the process has been collaborative, Republicans and Democrats. 
These are the three bills that have historically received both 
Republican and Democratic support. They embody American values.
  What could be more important than looking after our veterans and 
their families? Energy and water, infrastructure. We are enormously 
proud of the work of both the chairs and ranking members. I urge 
Members, both Republicans and Democrats, to support these bills, as 
they historically have done, and look after the interests of the 
American people, especially those who serve in our military today and 
those who have paid the supreme sacrifice.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1030

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now 
rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Zeldin) having assumed the chair, Mr. Byrne, Acting Chair of the 
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that 
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5895) 
making appropriations for energy and water development and related 
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other 
purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

                          ____________________