[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          FULFILLING OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COUNTRY'S VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Rose) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are fulfilling our 
commitment to our country's veterans by fully funding veterans' 
healthcare programs, veterans' benefits, and Veterans Affairs programs 
in the fiscal year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and 
Related Agencies appropriations bill.
  Not only are we fulfilling our promise to those veterans who have 
served our country, but we are taking our efforts up a notch to go 
above and beyond what the VA is already doing by increasing funding for 
the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Prosthetic Research 
Program.
  I am a proud supporter of this program, and I requested that the 
Appropriations Committee fully fund this program to the level included 
in the bill, which is $938 million. That is a $22 million or 2.5 
percent increase as compared to fiscal year 2023 and is in line with 
the President's budgetary request.
  The VA's Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service is the largest and most 
comprehensive provider of prosthetic devices and sensory aids in the 
world. This funding will go a long way in making sure the VA has the 
necessary funds to research ways to restore veterans' abilities to 
function within their families, communities, and workplaces.
  This increased funding will also help the researchers within the VA 
research program recover from slowed research because of the COVID-19 
pandemic. Sustained and predictable funding growth for VA research is 
imperative to help ensure the best return on spending to improve the 
health of veterans and all Americans.
  Although the VA's Medical and Prosthetic Research Program is 
specifically dedicated to improving the health and well-being of those 
who have served the United States in uniformed services, it has had a 
tremendous impact on the care of all Americans.
  The research conducted within this program has led the way in many 
different healthcare fields, including the treatment of digestive 
diseases. There is no better way to utilize our tax dollars than by 
contributing to a cause that will help restore veterans' functionality 
and also lead to advancements in medical care for all Americans.
  Additionally, the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which has 
direct ties to my district and constituents, has a proud, longstanding, 
and multifaceted partnership with the Veterans Administration in 
Nashville and the mid-South across clinical care, medical training, and 
research activities. They are proud to join me in supporting increased 
funding for this medical research program within the VA healthcare 
system.
  Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is that medical research at the VA not 
only helps those that have put it all on the line in service to this 
country--some sacrificing pieces of their body that they will never get 
back--it helps all Americans, as I have already mentioned. This is a 
great use of taxpayer funds, and I couldn't be prouder to support this 
initiative to fund this program at the level I have already mentioned.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members on both sides of the aisle to 
support this provision in the fiscal year 2024 Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

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