[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 150 (Monday, September 18, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H4358-H4361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               VETERANS BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2023

  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1530) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the 
requirement to publish disability benefit questionnaire forms of 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1530

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Benefits 
     Improvement Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLICATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS DISABILITY BENEFIT QUESTIONNAIRE FORMS.

       Section 5101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (d)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``, including (except 
     as provided in paragraph (4)(A)) all disability benefit 
     questionnaire forms available to personnel of the Veterans 
     Health Administration and covered non-Department providers 
     for the completion of examinations with respect to medical 
     disability of applicants for benefits under laws administered 
     by the Secretary'' before the semicolon; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4)(A) The Secretary may exclude from publication under 
     clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(A) any form described 
     in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph that the Secretary 
     determines could not reasonably be completed to a clinically 
     acceptable standard by someone not an employee or a 
     contractor of the Department.
       ``(B) A form described in this subparagraph is a form 
     that--
       ``(i) was available or in use at any time after the date of 
     the enactment of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2023; and
       ``(ii) has not been published under paragraph (1).
       ``(C) The Secretary shall include on the same internet 
     website as the website on which forms are published under 
     paragraph (1)(A) a list of forms that have been excluded from 
     publication pursuant to subparagraph (A), and for each such 
     form, a justification for the exclusion of the form from 
     publication.''; and
       (2) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(3) The term `covered non-Department provider' means a 
     medical provider who is not an employee of the Department and 
     who provides examinations with respect to medical disability 
     of applicants for benefits under laws administered by the 
     Secretary pursuant to a contract with the Department.''.

     SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENT OF PROVISION OF MEDICAL DISABILITY 
                   EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACTORS.

       (a) Report on Improving Reimbursement for Travel Relating 
     to Medical Disability Examinations.--Not later than one year 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, after consulting with the Secretary of 
     State and the Commissioner of the Social Security 
     Administration, shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 
     report on the efforts of the Secretary to reimburse veterans 
     for expenses incurred traveling to a facility of the 
     Department or of a covered non-Department provider incident 
     to an examination with respect to the medical disability of 
     the veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws 
     administered by the Secretary, regardless of whether the 
     facility is located inside or outside the United States.
       (b) Communication by Non-Department Providers Providing 
     Medical Disability Examinations With Individuals and 
     Organizations Designated for Preparation, Presentation, and 
     Prosecution of Claims.--Any contract entered into by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act under which a covered non-Department provider 
     agrees to provide examinations with respect to medical 
     disability for applicants for benefits under the laws 
     administered by the Secretary, shall include a requirement 
     that every communication from the covered non-Department 
     provider to such an applicant regarding the scheduling of a 
     covered medical disability examination be contemporaneously 
     transmitted to any person or organization--
       (1) designated by the applicant by a power of attorney 
     filed with the Secretary; and
       (2) recognized under sections 5902, 5903, and 5904 of title 
     38, United States Code, for the preparation, presentation, 
     and prosecution of claims.
       (c) Department of Veterans Affairs Outreach Regarding 
     Contact Information for

[[Page H4359]]

     Contractors Providing Covered Medical Disability 
     Examinations.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
     partnership with veterans service organizations and such 
     other stakeholders as the Secretary considers relevant and 
     appropriate, shall implement an outreach program to provide 
     veterans with the following information:
       (1) Contact information for covered non-Department 
     providers that provide examinations with respect to medical 
     disability of applicants for benefits under laws administered 
     by the Secretary, including the telephone numbers such 
     providers may use to contact veterans.
       (2) Notice of the requirement for a veteran to provide 
     personally identifiable information to such a provider when 
     contacted in order to verify the identity of the veteran.
       (d) Covered Non-Department Provider.--In this section, the 
     term ``covered non-Department provider'' means a medical 
     provider who is not an employee of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs and who provides examinations with respect to medical 
     disability of applicants for benefits under laws administered 
     by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract 
     with the Department.

     SEC. 4. REPORT ON SUPPORTING GOVERNMENTAL VETERANS SERVICE 
                   OFFICERS WHO PREPARE, PRESENT, AND PROSECUTE 
                   BENEFITS CLAIMS BEFORE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and after consulting veterans service 
     organizations and such other stakeholders as the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs considers relevant and appropriate, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on 
     improving the support by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     of covered governmental veterans service officers.
       (b) Elements.--The report submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) An assessment of the feasibility, advisability, and 
     current technical limitations of providing covered 
     governmental veterans service officers enhanced access to 
     certain Department systems to better serve veterans those 
     governmental service officers may not have authorization to 
     represent.
       (2) An assessment as to whether the Department would 
     benefit from the establishment or designation of an office or 
     working group within the Department to serve as an 
     intergovernmental liaison between the Department and 
     governmental veterans service officers.
       (3) Any other recommendations to improve how the Department 
     monitors, coordinates with, or provides support to covered 
     governmental veterans service officers.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``covered governmental veterans service 
     officer'' means an employee of a State, county, municipal, or 
     Tribal government--
       (A) who is recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     as a representative of a veterans service organization to 
     serve as a veterans service officer; and
       (B) whose primary responsibilities include preparing, 
     presenting, and prosecuting before the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs claims for benefits under laws administered by the 
     Secretary.
       (2) The term ``veterans service organization'' means an 
     organization recognized by the Secretary for the 
     representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. 5. BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 71 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 7114. Internship program

       ``The Secretary shall establish a competitive internship 
     program of the Board for individuals enrolled in the first or 
     second year of law schools accredited by the American Bar 
     Association.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 71 of such title is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new item:

``7114. Internship program.''.
       (c) Deadline.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     establish the internship program required by section 7114 of 
     such title, as added by subsection (a), not later than one 
     year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 6. BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS OF THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall carry out a program to furnish certain benefits 
     to covered participants.
       (b) Benefits: Student Loan Repayment; Reimbursements.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to an agreement under paragraph 
     (2), the Secretary shall provide to each covered attorney--
       (A) student loan repayment benefits under section 5379 of 
     title 5, United States Code, in the case of a covered 
     attorney who is eligible for such benefits; and
       (B) reimbursement for the cost of--
       (i) enrollment in a course designed to prepare an 
     individual for licensure to practice law in a State;
       (ii) sitting for a bar examination in a State; and
       (iii) annual dues required to maintain membership in the 
     bar of any State.
       (2) Agreement.--The Secretary shall enter into an agreement 
     with a covered attorney who will receive benefits under 
     paragraph (1). Each such agreement shall specify that--
       (A) the covered attorney agrees to remain in the service of 
     the Department for a period of not less than three years, 
     unless involuntarily separated; and
       (B) if separated involuntarily on account of misconduct, or 
     voluntarily, before the end of the period specified in the 
     agreement, the covered attorney shall repay to the United 
     States the amount of any benefits received by the covered 
     participant under paragraph (1).
       (c) Professional Development Activities.--
       (1) Mentorship.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
     which an individual becomes a covered participant, the 
     Secretary shall assign the covered participant a mentor who 
     is an employee of the Department who is--
       (A) to the extent practicable, a managerial employee; and
       (B) outside the participant's chain of command.
       (2) Assignments.--At the election of a covered participant 
     who has completed at least two years of service to the 
     Department, the Secretary shall assign such covered 
     participant to:
       (A) The Office of General Counsel, in a position--
       (i) that includes full-time legal responsibilities in order 
     to further the professional development of the covered 
     participant; and
       (ii) for a period of not less than 120 days and not more 
     than 180 days, or longer at the discretion of the Secretary.
       (B) In the case of a covered participant who has already 
     held a position described in subparagraph (A), an assignment 
     described in clauses (i) and (ii) of such subparagraph with 
     the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
       (3) Other rotational assignments.--The Secretary may 
     provide a covered participant one or more other short-term 
     rotational assignments. Such an assignment shall be for a 
     period of not less than 30 days and not more than 180 days, 
     at the discretion of the Secretary.
       (d) Periodic Reports.--
       (1) Reports required.--Not later than three years after the 
     date on which the Secretary begins to carry out the program 
     under this section, and not less frequently than once every 
     three years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives regarding such program.
       (2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (A) Costs to the United States to provide benefits under 
     subsection (b).
       (B) The rates of retention of covered participants compared 
     to other employees of the Department.
       (C) Recommendations of the Secretary regarding legislative 
     or administrative action to improve such program.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``covered attorney'' means an individual who--
       (A) is a covered participant;
       (B) has graduated from a law school accredited by the 
     American Bar Association; and
       (C) is a member in good standing of the bar of a State.
       (2) The term ``covered participant'' means an individual 
     who participates in--
       (A) the Honors Attorney Program (or successor program) of 
     the Office of General Counsel of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs; or
       (B) the Law Clerk Program (or successor program) of the 
     Board of Veterans' Appeals.
       (3) The term ``State'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 7. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM NUMBER OF JUDGES APPOINTED TO 
                   UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 
                   CLAIMS.

       Section 7253(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``seven'' and inserting ``nine''.

     SEC. 8. REPORT ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO BOARD OF VETERANS' 
                   APPEALS TELEHEARINGS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on improving access to hearings 
     before the Board of Veterans' Appeals held by picture and 
     voice transmission.
       (b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) Recommendations on the feasibility and advisability of 
     reimbursing veterans for expenses incurred for travel from 
     the home of a veteran to the location at which a hearing 
     before the Board of Veterans' Appeals is held by picture and 
     voice transmission, if the Secretary determines that travel 
     to such location is reasonably necessary for such a hearing.
       (2) Recommendations on establishment of pilot programs to 
     assess the feasibility and advisability of using other 
     methods that could improve veteran access to hearings before 
     the Board of Veterans' Appeals held by picture and voice 
     transmission from a veteran's home.
       (3) Such other recommendations to improve access to 
     hearings before the Board of Veterans' Appeals held by 
     picture and voice transmission as the Secretary may receive 
     from stakeholders.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H.R. 1530, as amended.

[[Page H4360]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1530, as amended, 
offered by my friend from Texas and our Subcommittee on Disability 
Assistance and Memorial Affairs chairman, Representative Luttrell.
  I also congratulate Representative Luttrell on this bill as it is his 
first one to come before the floor since coming to Congress.
  Now, this bill would make vitally important improvements to the VA's 
disability claims process for veterans applying for benefits, and I am 
grateful to my fellow veteran for his work on it.
  It is no secret that the VA disability claims process is lengthy and 
difficult, but Mr. Luttrell's bill is the right solution to modernize 
the process, an example of which would be the requirement for VA to 
publish disability benefits questionnaire forms on the VA's website to 
ease access between veterans and providers completing disability 
claims.
  This is a commonsense change that honestly we should have done a long 
time ago. This bill also includes Representative Ciscomani's 
legislation to create a new internship program at the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals. This program would offer certain incentives to legal 
interns to get them into VA and fighting for veterans while also 
addressing hiring and retention challenges at the board head on.
  Lastly, this bill includes Representative Self's proposal to make 
sure that the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has enough judges to 
process the backlog of appeals and expected growth since the passage of 
the PACT Act last year.
  These commonsense solutions should help us make the claims process a 
little easier to navigate for veterans and their families. It would 
also provide the courts with the additional resources we know they need 
to manage the workload coming in from the board.
  Once again, I thank Representative Luttrell, Mr. Self, and Mr. 
Ciscomani for their work on this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1530, as amended, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 1530, as 
amended, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act.
  I thank the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee 
Chairman Luttrell and Ranking Member Pappas for working in a bipartisan 
manner on the issues in this package. I commend Representatives 
Ciscomani and McGarvey for their contributions, as well.
  Madam Speaker, this bill makes several important changes that will 
serve to help streamline the medical disability exam process for 
veterans.
  It will also help strengthen recruitment, hiring, and retention at 
the Board of Veterans' Appeals by creating a new internship program for 
law students and will expand the reimbursement programs for current 
employees to include student loans, professional development 
activities, and bar dues.
  This bill will also permanently expand the number of judges appointed 
to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, allowing the court to 
process cases faster and grant veterans and survivors the relief they 
deserve.
  Madam Speaker, I support H.R. 1530, as amended, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Luttrell), the chairman of the DAMA Subcommittee.
  Mr. LUTTRELL. Madam Speaker, I am honored to be here today to talk 
about H.R. 1530, as amended, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 
2023.
  We have an obligation to support our veterans who served and 
sacrificed for our country. However, there is currently a lot of red 
tape that prevents veterans from easily accessing the disability 
benefits they have earned from the VA.
  This bill takes important steps to identify and break down these 
barriers in the disability exam process, ensuring our veterans receive 
the highest quality care and support.
  This bill would make several improvements, including clarifying 
publishing requirements for disability benefits questionnaire forms on 
VA's website and easing communication about the scheduling of 
disability exams between contract examiners, veterans, and veterans' 
representatives so that the veterans do not miss their appointments.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pappas and my colleagues, 
Representatives Ciscomani and Self, for working with me to include 
their respective legislation in this amendment. All of their provisions 
will take steps to provide VA with the resources they need to address 
the backlog of appeals, especially since the passage of the PACT Act 
last year, as well as mitigate the recruiting and retention problems at 
the board to get new lawyers in the door for our veterans.
  I know firsthand how cumbersome the disability claims process can be, 
and it is past time to modernize these efforts.
  I am proud to have a bill on the floor that will make improvements 
for my fellow veterans going through the VA claims process.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1530, as 
amended.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), my good friend, the ranking member of the 
House Veterans Affairs' Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and 
Memorial Affairs.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Takano for 
yielding. I rise today in support of this bipartisan legislation, the 
Veterans Benefits Improvement Act.
  As ranking member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs 
Subcommittee, I am honored to be able to partner with the subcommittee 
chair, Mr. Luttrell, on this legislation. I thank him for working in a 
bipartisan fashion to ensure that our veterans can access the benefits 
and services that they are owed.
  We all have a solemn obligation to ensure that the needs of veterans 
are met. We know that too many of our heroes encounter red tape, 
delays, and backlogs when trying to access benefits. My office has 
spoken with countless veterans across New Hampshire who have had 
trouble completing and filing disability benefits questionnaires due to 
a lack of clear and timely communication.
  Often, our office will step in when things go awry along the way and 
advocate on their behalf with VA, but veterans shouldn't have to reach 
out to yet another office just to navigate these processes, which are 
all too complicated.
  By improving transparency and accessibility for those filing a 
disability claim, as well as communications between veterans, their 
accredited representatives, and contractors, we can make sure that 
veterans receive the support that they have earned.
  As we see more veterans file claims as a result of the PACT Act, it 
is so crucial that we have steps in place that are going to improve 
these processes as soon as possible.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
commonsense legislation, which will help reduce the VA claims backlog 
and minimize delays that too many of our veterans are facing today.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 1530, as amended, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Self).
  Mr. SELF. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Veterans Benefits 
Improvement Act.
  This bill will streamline the veterans claims process through several 
actions, including adding language from my bill, H.R. 1329, to add two 
additional judges to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 
Claims.
  For decades, the Board of Veterans' Appeals has been maligned because 
they cannot provide timely decisions to veterans who appeal their 
cases. To

[[Page H4361]]

make matters worse, the court anticipates the caseload in FY 2023 
increasing even more due to the amount of cases generated from the PACT 
Act.

  Quite simply, more cases before the board will lead to more denials, 
and more denials will lead to more appeals. The rapid growth of appeals 
will create an even larger backlog and leave veterans waiting longer 
periods of time--potentially years--for their cases to be resolved.
  Since the court's expansion from five to seven permanent judges in 
2011, appeals that have been filed with the court have more than 
doubled from just under 4,000 to just under 9,000 in 2020. Increasing 
the number of judges will provide the court with an opportunity to 
prevent a backlog and provide veterans with decisions in a timely 
manner.
  The addition of this language to the bill is endorsed by the court 
itself.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1530.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani).
  Mr. CISCOMANI. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Bost for yielding me 
this time to speak in support of Representative Luttrell's bill, the 
Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023.
  I am grateful that my bill, the Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement 
Act, is included in this package. My bipartisan bill, which I 
introduced with Congressman McGarvey, is aimed at reducing wait times 
for our veterans with claims in front of the Board of Veterans' 
Appeals.
  For too many of our veterans, they are waiting weeks, months, and 
sometimes even years to hear back. These delays create an incredible 
hurdle for our veterans who are trying to get a potentially life-
changing decision.
  While progress has been made in this area to older legacy VA appeals 
from veterans, the backlog is only increasing with newer claims 
stemming from the PACT Act.
  Simply put, the Board of Veterans' Appeals, like all employers, is 
having issues recruiting employees and does not have enough staff to 
process the volume of cases. To address this shortage, my bill would 
create an internship program for law students at the Board of Veterans' 
Appeals. Additionally, it would create a 9-year pilot honors program at 
the VA for recruiting entry-level attorneys to work at the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals.
  This bill makes major strides in improving and addressing the backlog 
and delays that our veterans see far too often and will help recruit 
much-needed staff.
  Madam Speaker, I look forward to supporting this legislation and 
swift passage on the House floor.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a strong supporter of H.R. 
1530, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023, which, among other 
things, would amend title 38 of the United States Code to improve the 
requirement to publish disability benefit questionnaire forms of 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
  Veterans are some of America's most valued members of society.
  These are people who served our nation in a time of need, people who 
risked their lives to protect our country.
  Yet, it pains me to say that many of these same veterans who fought 
so bravely and risked so much in lands abroad have come back to their 
nation and have limited access to veterans' outreach programs, 
particularly in areas with large concentration of veterans.
  There are approximately 18.5 million veterans in the United States.
  Of those veterans, 1.5 million reside in Texas--the largest veteran 
population of any state.
  This legislation is necessary because veterans have special needs 
that are unique from those faced by the rest of the population.
  In 2015, I was proud to introduce the H.E.R.O.E.S. Act, which offers 
assistance and materials to help veterans transition from the 
battlefield to the workplace.
  The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023 is a step closer 
towards building a smooth transition for our nation's heroes.
  H.R. 1530 helps to address the shortcomings in veteran assistance by 
increasing and extending assistance programs as well as scholarships 
through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023 holds the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs responsible to improve its support of veterans through 
outreach; reimbursement for medical disability-related travel; 
professional development activities; and access to Board of Veterans' 
Appeals telehearings.
  This comprehensive program is needed if we are to fight this scourge 
that is a blight upon our nation.
  Our nation's veterans did not risk their lives abroad so that they 
could come home and not receive the support and benefits they so 
desperately need.
  We must all have outrage that so many of our nation's veterans live 
without critical support services; we must continue to proactively find 
ways to correct this injustice.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1530, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________