[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 26, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H2105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           VA MEDICAL CENTERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Bost) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have run a small business, and I know that 
any organization needs long-term certainty. No organization can 
successfully operate under a revolving door of short-term leaders, 
especially not one tasked with caring for America's heroes. 
Unfortunately, this is what is happening at our Nation's VA centers.
  Almost 20 VA medical centers, nationwide, currently lack a permanent 
director. Some of these facilities have not been staffed by a permanent 
director in almost 2 years. Instead, these facilities are managed by 
short-term directors who stay on the job for just a few months.
  There is just not a lot you can do in a few months. It is not nearly 
long enough to review operations, recommend improvements, and see these 
reforms brought through to an end. That is why I introduced bipartisan 
legislation with Mr. Costa from California that put an end to this 
revolving door. Our bill pushes the VA to hire permanent directors at 
all VA medical centers--no more interim directors.
  We all want a VA system that can complete its mission to care for 
those who shall have borne the battle. Having consistent leadership is 
the least we can do for our Nation's heroes.


                     Assault on the First Amendment

  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I say to the people of southern Illinois and 
this country: Your constitutional rights are under assault. If you are 
a law-abiding gun owner, a sportsman, you need to pay attention.
  This week, the House Democrats will bring a bill to the floor that 
will restrict your freedoms and do little to reduce gun violence.
  As a father and a grandfather, I want to reduce gun violence as much 
as anyone, but we have to be smart. We can't get roped into scoring 
political points. That is why I worked with my colleagues on both sides 
of the aisle last year on a measure which is now law to increase 
security for our kids in the schools. But the gun control bill being 
considered this week makes it harder for law-abiding citizens to defend 
themselves and others against criminals who have guns.
  We need to enforce the laws already on the books, not limit the 
rights of law-abiding citizens who want to protect their families.

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