[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 4, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3601-H3633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025
General Leave
Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 8580, and that I may include
tabular material on the same.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269 and rule
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 8580.
The Chair appoints the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose) to preside
over the Committee of the Whole.
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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 consideration of the bill
(H.R. 8580) making appropriations for military construction, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes, with Mr. Rose
in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the
first time.
General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed 1
hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority
member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective
designees.
The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline) and the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. CLINE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased today to speak in support of this year's
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
appropriations bill.
Under current leadership, the Veterans Health Administration has been
distracted from its core mission, using official resources for
political purposes such as lobbying Congress, pushing for DEI policies,
and even going so far as to process medical care claims for illegal
aliens.
Our veterans deserve better. Therefore, House Republicans are moving
forward with a bill that refocuses the VA back to its core mission by
fully funding veterans' healthcare programs and benefits while cutting
out radical prerogatives that divert resources away from critical
veteran care.
In addition to supporting those who have served, this bill would
bolster our national security interests in the Indo-Pacific region to
counter China by improving our defense posture in the region.
The funding allocated in this bill would equip our Active-Duty
servicemembers by constructing the facilities they so desperately need
and honor our commitment to the veterans who have so dutifully served
us here at home.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 8580, the fiscal year
2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
bill.
While I unfortunately cannot support the bill on the floor today, I
am grateful to Chairman Carter for the work that we have been able to
accomplish together over the years on this subcommittee.
I know we both prioritize quality of life for our servicemembers and
their families and caring for our veterans, but, sadly, the bill before
us today is built on a framework that once again walks away from the
bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act agreement, which is law, which was
the basis for the bills that we passed just a couple of months ago.
While the FY25 MILCON-VA bill doesn't face cuts nearly as dramatic as
the other bills, veterans, servicemembers, and their families rely on
programs throughout the Federal Government.
These funding levels only move us further from a bipartisan agreement
on all of the funding bills that those who served our Nation rely on.
On the military construction side, this bill cuts funding for
servicemembers and their families by $718 million, compared to last
year's bill. This cut will slow crucial progress to modernize and
improve DOD's infrastructure.
In fiscal year `24, we provided DOD with $30 million in dedicated
funding for resiliency, a comparatively small sum of funding now, which
will pay huge dividends in the future and ensure our national security
in the face of our changing climate.
By eliminating the dedicated resilience funding this year, this bill
will threaten future military readiness because we are not making sure
we invest in hardening facilities to make sure that they can withstand
the impact of natural disasters.
Cutting military construction now slows our historically bipartisan
efforts to reduce the infrastructure backlog to strengthen our national
security and to improve the quality of life of our servicemembers and
their families.
Perhaps the most egregious part of the bill is all the partisan
riders it includes. This bill is usually first up on the floor, like we
are this fiscal year, because we have a bipartisan process.
Unfortunately, partisan culture war riders have distracted from our
ability to accomplish that. We have riders that include preventing the
VA from implementing its interim final file on abortion care, which is
now final, by the way, to provide abortion services under limited
circumstances, abortion counseling, and to ensure that veterans have
equal access to healthcare regardless of what State they live in,
especially in a time when reproductive rights are under attack around
the country.
A woman's decision whether or not to have an abortion should be made
between her and her doctor and her family. It should not be made by
politicians in this Chamber.
This bill includes riders that do everything from prohibiting VA from
implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as
training, to a petty, bigoted prohibition from flying the Pride flag
over VA facilities during Pride Month, to add insult to injury, from
protecting people who speak or act under the guise of religious
freedom, essentially authorizing the arbitrary discrimination against
LGBTQI+ people and to prohibiting access to gender-affirming care, just
to name a few, all aimed to disenfranchise veterans from the VA.
Let me just note: The United States did not make exceptions to the
promises that we made our servicemembers in exchange for their service
and sacrifice. We made promises to everyone.
This bill undermines VA's ability to report a beneficiary to the
National Instant Criminal Background Check system to keep guns out of
the hands of people who are prohibited under Federal law from
purchasing or possessing firearms. It is prohibiting VA from following
the law that is intended to protect veterans and those around them.
We have a dramatic suicide problem among our veteran population, and
allowing people who are prohibited by law to possess a gun makes that
suicide more likely, not less, and puts other people around them in
their care circle at risk. That is unacceptable, irresponsible, and
unnecessary.
This bill prioritizes guns over protecting veterans. It is truly a
shame that this bill includes these poison pill riders.
They create division between us when we all should have a shared goal
of providing healthcare and benefits to our veterans.
These culture war riders were rejected in conference negotiations
last year, and we know that they will be rejected again this year in
order to reach a final agreement. This bill can't pass with all of
these poison pill riders attached to it.
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I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. CLINE. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I am honored to present the FY25
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
appropriations bill to the House today.
This bill supports our troops, their families, and the Nation's
veterans. The bill makes good on the Republican commitment to bring
bills to the floor that comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act while
honoring our commitment to our Nation's veterans and our troops.
To honor that commitment, the bill provides full funding for
healthcare and benefits for veterans. They have earned these benefits,
and we are making good on our promises to them.
To provide for those who wear the uniform now, the bill includes $412
million over the budget request to support crucial investments in
barracks and family housing. We must keep our word to our
servicemembers and their families.
In addition, we provide robust funding to build upon last year's work
to enable the Department of Defense to meet the challenges in the Indo-
Pacific.
We also have multiple provisions in our bill to protect Americans'
core values; namely, freedom, equality, and justice, from being
trampled on by unaccountable bureaucrats.
I thank Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for her work on this bill.
Though we have our policy differences, I am glad we are at this step in
the process and hope we can continue to work together in support of our
troops and our veterans.
This bill cares for our veterans, and it supports our troops and
their families, and it stands up for American values.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8580, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
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Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the distinguished ranking
member of the Appropriations Committee.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
I rise in opposition to this bill that shortchanges our
servicemembers and endangers military families.
Before I begin, I thank the majority and minority subcommittee staff,
particularly Farouk Ophaso and Tyler Coe. After nearly 10 years on the
committee, Jennifer Neuscheler departed at the end of May. In her
place, Farouk is now the minority clerk for the Subcommittee on
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. I
congratulate Farouk and welcome him to his first House floor debate as
a subcommittee clerk.
Now, to the bill.
This bill would hurt our veterans and military readiness and would
worsen the quality of life for servicemembers and their families. It
leaves military installations, servicemembers, veterans, and their
families vulnerable to natural disasters. It harms women and moves us
closer to a national abortion ban.
This bill disarms our military in the face of the climate crisis by
failing to include dedicated funding for resilience projects to help
protect our bases and installations from rising sea levels and extreme
weather. The bill walks back investments in natural disaster recovery
that help our military rebuild after disasters strike, and it includes
harmful policy riders preventing the implementation of executive orders
on climate change and clean energy. Impeding our military's efforts to
confront climate change puts servicemembers in harm's way and hurts
America's readiness and national security.
Military leaders, including under former President Trump, have
cautioned of the dangers climate change poses to our military. Former
Secretary Mattis warned that climate change threatens American
interests and our military assets around the world and said: ``Climate
change is a challenge that requires a broader, whole-of-government
response.''
This bill endangers veterans by recklessly undermining the ability to
keep guns out of the hands of those prohibited under Federal law from
purchasing or possessing firearms who could be a harm to themselves or
others.
This bill attacks the rights of women veterans by limiting abortion
access and prohibiting abortion counseling.
The women who volunteer to serve and defend this Nation should not
come home to find their medical and family planning decisions being
made by anyone other than themselves, their families, and their
doctors. We will defeat all of the majority's anti-choice riders, as we
did last year, but I am dismayed this body is being forced to waste
time with this charade yet again.
House Republicans are taking us down an already well-trodden path
toward chaos, division, and shutdown threats. Like last year, we are
beginning this process with top-line funding levels that fall short of
the American people's needs and short of what both parties just agreed
to in March, when 80 percent of the Appropriations Committee voted to
pass the final 2024 appropriations acts. The majority is pursuing
harmful policies that needlessly divide the country, divide the
Congress, and harm Americans.
Like last year, the final 2025 spending bills will be the product of
negotiations between Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate.
We can begin that process now, or we can squander yet another summer on
bills that will never become law.
Our starting point for 2025 must provide, at a minimum, a 1 percent
increase in defense and nondefense funding, consistent with the
framework set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act that House Republicans
demanded as the price for averting a catastrophic default last year.
Let me reiterate: Democrats will accept nothing less than a 1 percent
increase over 2024 in nondefense and defense funding.
Last month, we received a letter from dozens of stakeholder
organizations already frustrated by the House majority's stance, and it
reads: ``We ask that you take the opportunity in FY25 to restore some
normalcy by rejecting these extreme and polarizing provisions and cuts,
which are as damaging as they are unrealistic.''
The majority may want to suggest they are supporting veterans, but
this bill does not contain all of the programs the most vulnerable
veterans depend on. At least 1.2 million veterans rely on food stamps.
Tens of thousands of veterans rely on housing vouchers. Thousands of
veterans utilize job training programs to reenter civilian life. All of
these programs and many others face severe cuts under the majority's
funding levels across all appropriations bills.
I cannot support this bill. I hope Republicans will abandon their
partisan strategy and join Democrats at the table to support veterans,
servicemembers, and military families. It is time to govern.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman
from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).
Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for his courtesy in
yielding to me.
I rise in support of my bipartisan amendment, which supports critical
relief for certain defense contractors who faced crippling cost
overruns due to inflation.
As so many of us have heard from our families across our districts,
the administration's harmful inflation is cutting deep into
constituents' pocketbooks. Many American businesses working on
projects, which are critical to U.S. national security, are facing the
same staggering price increases.
Because of the importance of their work to our safety and security,
local employers, like those working on the National Geospatial Agency
project in St. Louis, were forced to pay steep, unanticipated price
increases in order to meet the projects' original deadlines.
I am proud of the St. Louis area companies and workers who made tough
sacrifices while doing their part to safeguard our national security
and keep construction of the new NGA West headquarters on track. These
economic disruptions and runaway price increases threaten to trigger a
crisis that could significantly weaken our defense industrial base.
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Twice, on a bipartisan basis, Congress has narrowly authorized the
Department of Defense to provide extraordinary relief for these
companies in order to preserve a healthy and competitive defense
industrial base, but that funding has never been appropriated.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment supporting
necessary and carefully tailored relief that will stabilize our defense
industrial base.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the current distinguished ranking member of
the Agriculture-Rural Development Subcommittee and the former ranking
member of the MILCON-VA Subcommittee.
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding.
I rise today to voice strong opposition to the FY25 Military
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations
bill that is being presented by our colleagues from across the aisle.
This bill should reflect our Nation's values, priorities, and
commitments. It should reflect who we are and should help move us
toward who we aim to be. Though we have the difficult task of balancing
financial figures, we cannot sacrifice our potential or jeopardize the
well-being of our military families, veterans, and our national
security.
While I believe in principle as professed supporters of our national
security, my colleagues would want to prioritize caring for veterans,
supporting our servicemembers and their families, and bolstering our
national defense in theory. The bill they have presented today,
however, fails to acknowledge the diverse individuals who make up our
armed forces and it falls short of addressing their needs.
I echo the concerns of many Americans who recognize that embracing
the diversity of our Nation and empowering those who seek to serve
strengthens our military force. This inclusive approach not only
fosters a deeper sense of patriotism and service among all Americans
but encourages more individuals to consider military service when they
see themselves represented within it. Leveraging our Nation's full
potential enhances our military's ability to effectively respond to the
global challenges we confront.
My additional concern lies in the proposed $718 million cut in
military construction funding compared to last year, along with
partisan riders that undermine our commitment to all of our
servicemembers, our veterans, and their families. This bill would
jeopardize the well-being and safety of our servicemembers and their
loved ones.
Additionally, cutting vital funding for education, job opportunities,
housing, and food assistance undermines the crucial support systems
relied upon by veterans, servicemembers, and their families.
Such actions compromise the ability of our servicemembers to focus on
their duties abroad when they are concerned about the well-being of
their families back home.
This bill, in its current form, does not align with the principles of
our democracy and denies equal opportunity for all Americans to
patriotically serve their country.
We must reevaluate its provisions and make necessary adjustments to
ensure it genuinely serves our national interests and does not
compromise military readiness. Our Nation and those who serve it
deserve nothing less.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. Let's make it
better.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Deluzio), a veteran of our Armed Forces.
Mr. DELUZIO. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for
yielding.
I rise in opposition to the bill. I think that at this moment, my
fellow veterans and the VA are at a critical point in time. We are
seeing folks come in, because of the PACT Act, who served in places
like Iraq and Afghanistan, who were exposed to burn pits. We need to
meet that moment by investing in the VA.
Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have
decided to use this bill to attack abortion rights and to attack
reproductive freedom. I think every veteran who raised their right hand
was writing a blank check to this country, and my fellow veterans who
are women ought to have the full reproductive care they have earned
from the VA. This bill, which would ban abortions, even where there are
health risks to a veteran, is unacceptable to me and is unacceptable to
so many in this country and so many who have served.
I urge my Republican colleagues to meet this moment by working with
us and getting these toxic attacks on people's freedom out of these
spending bills. Let's get a bill that we can pass together.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Stansbury).
Ms. STANSBURY. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R.
8580. I was just home, like many of you, honoring our military and our
veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day. That is why
it is so unimaginable and shameful that we are here today on the House
floor as House Republicans are proposing to cut the military and VA
budget.
We are talking about $6 billion in cuts to medical care for our
veterans, $718 million in cuts to military construction that would
impact our readiness and affect the quality of lives and safety of
American servicemembers and their families, and $30 million in cuts to
climate resilience programs that would affect the military readiness of
our bases and servicemembers across the world. It is shameful.
In a time when Democrats fought to pass the PACT Act and our veterans
literally stood on the steps outside of this building to make sure that
we got it done, it is inconceivable that they would be here today
proposing to cut programs and services.
In New Mexico, we have an incredible history of service from our
Navajo Code Talkers to our heroes of Bataan, and we will not sit
silently by while you try to underfund and disenfranchise our veterans.
It is shameful.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I am prepared to close, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
This is a good bill. I hear about all these cuts, but what I see is
that we have done our duty to both our veterans and our soldiers,
sailors, airmen, and marines around the world. We have gone out of our
way to fund the area where we have our biggest fear of combat, which is
the Indo-Pacific.
I traveled over there, as did Ms. Wasserman Schultz at a different
time. We both saw that we have an awful lot of projects that have to be
dealt with over there. We did our part to do that, and I am sure DOD
will do their part to do that, too. We have to be ready in case and
until the flag goes up, if it should, with the Chinese.
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The issues on those islands is that the wind and dampness destroy
buildings, so we are going to have lots of building projects that are
going to go on over that way. We have provided the appropriate amount
of funding as we had it available for those projects. We also had a
bunch of barracks issues around the country, and we provided to fully
fund a certain number of those barracks and to give guidance funding
for the rest because we intend to fund them all.
In my opinion, we are always underfunded in military construction. I
think Ms. Wasserman Schultz will agree with me on that. We have more
than we can say grace over when it comes to funding projects relative
to our military.
For that reason, I think that we have done the best we can for them.
I don't see the cuts that are being talked about. I am curious about
that, but then I am curious about a lot of things around here.
I am blessed to have a ranking member who I can work with. She is a
kind person. We get along just great except
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we don't agree on any policies, but other than that, we get along just
great. I guess that is a blessing, that I can plan to keep going after
this.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), who is the distinguished
ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee who goes to bat for
our Nation's veterans every single day on the authorizing committee.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from Florida for yielding
time.
Here we go again. Another year, another Military Construction-
Veterans Affairs appropriations bill full of partisan riders.
When someone takes the oath and joins the military, they are making a
selfless commitment to protect our country. As Members of Congress, we
must be ready to pay for all costs of war and to help every veteran,
regardless of their gender, faith, race, or sexual orientation.
That is why I am disturbed that my Republican colleagues have
included many of the same partisan riders in this year's bill that were
in this bill last year. These radical riders aim to restrict access to
abortion and attack LGBTQ+ rights, attacks that are occurring during
Pride Month no less.
There is, once again, an amendment to this bill that will make it
easier for the most vulnerable veterans to access guns and more
difficult for VA to help them. The inclusion of this rider spreads the
lie that if a veteran seeks mental health care at the VA, then their
guns will be taken away. This could not be further from the truth. VA
will not take your guns if you come to VA for mental health care.
We want to encourage veterans to get the mental health care they have
earned and often very much need. This fear-mongering of VA overreach
could lead to more veterans not seeking lifesaving assistance. Veterans
have a higher rate of suicide than the general population, and they are
more likely to use a gun. Knowing this, how could we, in good
conscience, vote for this bill with the risks it poses to our veterans?
There is another harmful amendment that would lead to greater
privatization of veterans' healthcare. Specifically, it would require
the VA to apply new access standards for non-VA care. As written, this
amendment would cost VA billions of dollars per year to implement and
result in tens of thousands of veterans being sent to private providers
for lower quality, higher cost care than they would otherwise receive
at VA. This is a significant policy change that has not been considered
by the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Republicans are attaching it to this appropriations bill because they
know it would never pass as a standalone bill. The appropriations
process should not be used to legislate such a sweeping change. This is
deeply concerning to me and should give every Member voting in this
Chamber great pause.
Poison pill riders have turned what should be a nonpartisan issue of
helping our veterans into a political game. Stop the political games,
and let's get serious about helping every veteran. Until then, I cannot
support this bill in good faith.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``no'' and
opposing this legislation.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman
from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), who is the chairman of the full committee.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Chair, I thank my good friend from Texas, the
distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, for yielding.
Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of this important piece of
legislation.
There are many things that set our Nation apart from others. One of
our greatest differentiators is the sustained call to service Americans
have met generation after generation. Those who have worn the uniform
past and present took an oath to defend our country, our ideals, and
our people. Just as our veterans and troops answered the call of duty,
so must this Chamber in meeting our constitutional obligations.
That is why it is deeply fitting that the first fiscal year of 2025
appropriations bill we take up covers military construction and
Veterans Affairs, two of the highest priorities for our Nation.
This bill provides robust funding for military construction projects
with a particular focus on the Pacific region and military family
housing. These projects ensure that we can meet our national defense
needs both at home and abroad. They also support housing at bases
across the country and around the world, allowing members of our Armed
Forces to serve their country without being separated from their loved
ones.
Even more importantly, this legislation provides full funding for
healthcare and benefits for our Nation's veterans. Through devotion to
duty and great personal sacrifice, our veterans have served this
country and served it well, defending not only our homeland but our
families and our way of life. The services the VA provides have been
truly earned and represent the thanks of a grateful nation to our men
and women who have served in uniform.
Critically, today's bill fulfills these priorities while remaining
true to the budgetary levels outlined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act,
but in a reflection of the deep importance of this topic to America,
this bill actually appropriates $400 million more than the President's
budget request. We can and must direct our taxpayer dollars to our most
important priorities, and today's bill succeeds in that important
objective.
Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Carter for his hard work on this measure,
and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it on final
passage.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers, and I
am prepared to close.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this
bill, and I am prepared to close.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, it is with a heavy heart that
we--unnecessarily--oppose this legislation on our side of the aisle
because this bill was drafted in a way that it never should have been
and doesn't have to be.
The stark reality, by any definition, is that this bill cuts military
construction by $718 million from last fiscal year to this one, and it
cuts funding for our veterans by $6 billion from last year to this one.
There is no way around that. That is actually what we are doing. That
is the math.
It is also pretty unprecedented. We generally increase funding in
this bill. That is why it is so bipartisan. It is why our committee
goes first, because we have a bill that, as Judge Carter said, we are
really able to work very closely together on the nuts and bolts of
taking care of our veterans and our servicemembers.
Unfortunately, because the Republicans refused to adhere to the law--
that is, the Fiscal Responsibility Act--and refused to make sure that
we, in that agreement, adhere to the agreement where we increased
nondefense discretionary and defense discretionary by 1 percent, as a
result, the allocations given to our committee were paltry. Republicans
decided to make cuts to individuals who have signed up to defend our
country, whom our committee is responsible for going to bat for
improving our veterans' and servicemembers' quality of life, who are
promised that protection no matter who they are, no matter whom they
love, and no matter what gender they are.
It is wrong to cut funding for veterans and servicemembers, and it is
also wrong to load this bill up with partisan political culture war
riders that deny women access to reproductive healthcare.
Let's be clear. What the Republicans have done here is they are
eliminating the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure
that no matter where a woman veteran lives in this country, she is able
to access an abortion in conjunction with the recommendation of her
medical provider in the cases of rape or incest and in the cases of the
life and health of the mother.
What the Republicans do in this bill is that a woman veteran has to
be dying in order to be able to get access to abortion care. That is
wrong because no one who has signed up and who has served our country,
committed to laying their life on the line in defense of our country,
should have politicians, judges, or the government making the
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most deeply difficult personal healthcare decisions for them.
That is what Republicans do in this bill.
In addition to eliminating our ability to ensure that we can have
seamless communication and support for our veterans, they are
eliminating the DEI programming.
We have a very large agency. It is an agency in which we need to make
sure that it can run seamlessly, but they are discriminating against
LGBTQ+ people, and they are loading up this bill with unrelated,
controversial, and unnecessary amendments that are going to prevent us
from being able to make sure this bill can become law.
In fact, all those poison pill culture war riders are not going to
survive conference, just like they didn't last year. We are wasting
time here when we should be devoted to making sure we care for our
servicemembers and our veterans, which is what this committee has
always committed to.
I am sad I cannot support this bill. It doesn't have to be this way.
I have tremendous respect for my friend, Judge Carter. He is right. We
do work very well together.
Mr. Chair, I also thank our incredible staff for the work that they
have done. Both of our staffs have changed over a little bit, so we
have some newbies managing this. We appreciate all the effort that they
have put in.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, this is a good bill. We are above
the President's numbers both in MILCON and in veterans, and it just a
matter of how you look at things as to whether the social things that
we talk about have concern or don't have concern among our various
people. We are speaking about the things that concern us that are
causing people not to want to join the military because of the added on
governmental interference in their lives by these various things that
they have set out in regulations, and we are trying to correct that.
Whatever happens, every bill we have, somebody doesn't like something
about it, but the reality is we worked hard. I thank my staff. I thank
all the staffs for working together on this to come up with a good
bill. It deserves a positive vote on the bill, and I hope all my
colleagues will seriously consider voting for the bill.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Rouzer). All time for general debate has
expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment
under the 5-minute rule.
An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of
Rules Committee Print 118-35, modified by the amendment printed in part
A of House Report 118-535, shall be considered as adopted and the bill,
as amended, shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of
further amendment under the 5-minute rule and shall be considered as
read.
The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:
H.R. 8580
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Military Construction, Army
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, military
installations, facilities, and real property for the Army as
currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Army
Corps of Engineers and other personal services necessary for
the purposes of this appropriation, and for construction and
operation of facilities in support of the functions of the
Commander in Chief, $2,217,757,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2029: Provided, That, of this amount, not to
exceed $334,738,000 shall be available for study, planning,
design, architect and engineer services, and host nation
support, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the
Army determines that additional obligations are necessary for
such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the
reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made
available under this heading, $87,100,000 shall be for the
projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the
table under the heading ``Military Construction, Army'' in
the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts
otherwise available for such purposes.
Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, naval installations,
facilities, and real property for the Navy and Marine Corps
as currently authorized by law, including personnel in the
Naval Facilities Engineering Command and other personal
services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation,
$4,332,414,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029:
Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $877,946,000
shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect
and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Secretary of the Navy determines that additional obligations
are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the
determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further,
That of the amount made available under this heading,
$70,480,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in
the amounts, specified in the table under the heading
``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'' in the
report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts
otherwise available for such purposes.
Military Construction, Air Force
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, military
installations, facilities, and real property for the Air
Force as currently authorized by law, $3,268,276,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That,
of this amount, not to exceed $459,926,000 shall be available
for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the
Air Force determines that additional obligations are
necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the
determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further,
That of the amount made available under this heading,
$299,000,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in
the amounts, specified in the table under the heading
``Military Construction, Air Force'' in the report
accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise
available for such purposes.
Military Construction, Defense-Wide
(including transfer of funds)
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, installations,
facilities, and real property for activities and agencies of
the Department of Defense (other than the military
departments), as currently authorized by law, $3,500,083,000,
to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That
such amounts of this appropriation as may be determined by
the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to such
appropriations of the Department of Defense available for
military construction or family housing as the Secretary may
designate, to be merged with and to be available for the same
purposes, and for the same time period, as the appropriation
or fund to which transferred: Provided further, That, of the
amount, not to exceed $395,131,000 shall be available for
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services,
as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons
therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made
available under this heading, $47,920,000 shall be for the
projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the
table under the heading ``Military Construction, Defense-
Wide'' in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to
amounts otherwise available for such purposes.
Military Construction, Army National Guard
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Army National Guard, and contributions
therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United
States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts,
$367,129,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029:
Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $30,529,000
shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect
and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Director of the Army National Guard determines that
additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and
notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Air National Guard
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Air National Guard, and contributions
therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United
States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts,
$195,792,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029:
Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $15,792,000
shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect
and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the
Director of the Air National Guard determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of
the determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Army Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter
1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military
Construction Authorization Acts, $265,032,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That, of the
amount, not to exceed $41,508,000 shall be available for
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services,
as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Army Reserve
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons
[[Page H3606]]
therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made
available under this heading, $5,000,000 shall be for the
projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the
table under the heading ``Military Construction, Army
Reserve'' in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to
amounts otherwise available for such purposes.
Military Construction, Navy Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the reserve components of the Navy and
Marine Corps as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10,
United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization
Acts, $67,329,000, to remain available until September 30,
2029: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed
$3,219,000 shall be available for study, planning, design,
and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law,
unless the Secretary of the Navy determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of
the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided
further, That, of the amount made available under this
heading, $37,500,000 shall be for the projects and
activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under
the heading ``Military Construction, Navy Reserve'' in the
report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts
otherwise available for such purposes.
Military Construction, Air Force Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by
chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military
Construction Authorization Acts, $50,499,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That, of the
amount, not to exceed $3,798,000 shall be available for
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services,
as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Air Force
Reserve determines that additional obligations are necessary
for such purposes and notifies the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the
determination and the reasons therefor.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Security Investment Program
For the United States share of the cost of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for
the acquisition and construction of military facilities and
installations (including international military headquarters)
and for related expenses for the collective defense of the
North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized by section 2806 of
title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction
Authorization Acts, $433,864,000, to remain available until
expended.
Department of Defense Base Closure Account
For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure
Account, established by section 2906(a) of the Defense Base
Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note),
$547,961,000, to remain available until expended.
Family Housing Construction, Army
For expenses of family housing for the Army for
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition,
expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law,
$276,647,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army
For expenses of family housing for the Army for operation
and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor
construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance
premiums, as authorized by law, $485,611,000.
Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps
For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine
Corps for construction, including acquisition, replacement,
addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized
by law, $245,742,000, to remain available until September 30,
2029.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps
For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine
Corps for operation and maintenance, including debt payment,
leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges,
and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $387,217,000.
Family Housing Construction, Air Force
For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition,
expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law,
$221,549,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force
For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for
operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing,
minor construction, principal and interest charges, and
insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $336,250,000.
Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide
For expenses of family housing for the activities and
agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the
military departments) for operation and maintenance, leasing,
and minor construction, as authorized by law, $52,156,000.
Department of Defense
Family Housing Improvement Fund
For the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement
Fund, $8,195,000, to remain available until expended, for
family housing initiatives undertaken pursuant to section
2883 of title 10, United States Code, providing alternative
means of acquiring and improving military family housing and
supporting facilities.
Department of Defense
Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund
For the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied
Housing Improvement Fund, $497,000, to remain available until
expended, for unaccompanied housing initiatives undertaken
pursuant to section 2883 of title 10, United States Code,
providing alternative means of acquiring and improving
military unaccompanied housing and supporting facilities.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 101. None of the funds made available in this title
shall be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee
contract for construction, where cost estimates exceed
$25,000, to be performed within the United States, except
Alaska, without the specific approval in writing of the
Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons therefor.
Sec. 102. Funds made available in this title for
construction shall be available for hire of passenger motor
vehicles.
Sec. 103. Funds made available in this title for
construction may be used for advances to the Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Transportation, for the
construction of access roads as authorized by section 210 of
title 23, United States Code, when projects authorized
therein are certified as important to the national defense by
the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 104. None of the funds made available in this title
may be used to begin construction of new bases in the United
States for which specific appropriations have not been made.
Sec. 105. None of the funds made available in this title
shall be used for purchase of land or land easements in
excess of 100 percent of the value as determined by the Army
Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering
Command, except: (1) where there is a determination of value
by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated by the Attorney
General or the designee of the Attorney General; (3) where
the estimated value is less than $25,000; or (4) as otherwise
determined by the Secretary of Defense to be in the public
interest.
Sec. 106. None of the funds made available in this title
shall be used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site
preparation; or (3) install utilities for any family housing,
except housing for which funds have been made available in
annual Acts making appropriations for military construction.
Sec. 107. None of the funds made available in this title
for minor construction may be used to transfer or relocate
any activity from one base or installation to another,
without prior notification to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 108. None of the funds made available in this title
may be used for the procurement of steel for any construction
project or activity for which American steel producers,
fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied the
opportunity to compete for such steel procurement.
Sec. 109. None of the funds available to the Department of
Defense for military construction or family housing during
the current fiscal year may be used to pay real property
taxes in any foreign nation.
Sec. 110. None of the funds made available in this title
may be used to initiate a new installation overseas without
prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 111. None of the funds made available in this title
may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts
estimated by the Government to exceed $500,000 for projects
to be accomplished in Japan, in any North Atlantic Treaty
Organization member country, or in countries bordering the
Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are awarded to United
States firms or United States firms in joint venture with
host nation firms.
Sec. 112. None of the funds made available in this title
for military construction in the United States territories
and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in
countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, may be used to award
any contract estimated by the Government to exceed $1,000,000
to a foreign contractor: Provided, That this section shall
not be applicable to contract awards for which the lowest
responsive and responsible bid of a United States contractor
exceeds the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a
foreign contractor by greater than 20 percent: Provided
further, That this section shall not apply to contract awards
for military construction on Kwajalein Atoll for which the
lowest responsive and responsible bid is submitted by a
Marshallese contractor.
Sec. 113. The Secretary of Defense shall inform the
appropriate committees of both Houses of Congress, including
the Committees on Appropriations, of plans and scope of any
proposed military exercise involving United States personnel
30 days prior to its occurring, if amounts expended for
construction, either temporary or permanent, are anticipated
to exceed $100,000.
Sec. 114. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense
for construction in prior years shall be available for
construction authorized for each such military department by
the authorizations enacted into law during the current
session of Congress.
Sec. 115. For military construction or family housing
projects that are being completed with funds otherwise
expired or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may
be used to pay the cost of associated supervision,
inspection, overhead, engineering and design on those
projects and on subsequent claims, if any.
[[Page H3607]]
Sec. 116. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
funds made available to a military department or defense
agency for the construction of military projects may be
obligated for a military construction project or contract, or
for any portion of such a project or contract, at any time
before the end of the fourth fiscal year after the fiscal
year for which funds for such project were made available, if
the funds obligated for such project: (1) are obligated from
funds available for military construction projects; and (2)
do not exceed the amount appropriated for such project, plus
any amount by which the cost of such project is increased
pursuant to law.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 117. Subject to 30 days prior notification, or 14
days for a notification provided in an electronic medium
pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, United States
Code, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress, such additional amounts as may be determined by the
Secretary of Defense may be transferred to: (1) the
Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund from
amounts appropriated for construction in ``Family Housing''
accounts, to be merged with and to be available for the same
purposes and for the same period of time as amounts
appropriated directly to the Fund; or (2) the Department of
Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from
amounts appropriated for construction of military
unaccompanied housing in ``Military Construction'' accounts,
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes
and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated
directly to the Fund: Provided, That appropriations made
available to the Funds shall be available to cover the costs,
as defined in section 502(5) of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, of direct loans or loan guarantees issued by the
Department of Defense pursuant to the provisions of
subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code,
pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving
military family housing, military unaccompanied housing, and
supporting facilities.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 118. In addition to any other transfer authority
available to the Department of Defense, amounts may be
transferred from the Department of Defense Base Closure
Account to the fund established by section 1013(d) of the
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966
(42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses associated with the
Homeowners Assistance Program incurred under 42 U.S.C.
3374(a)(1)(A). Any amounts transferred shall be merged with
and be available for the same purposes and for the same time
period as the fund to which transferred.
Sec. 119. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
funds made available in this title for operation and
maintenance of family housing shall be the exclusive source
of funds for repair and maintenance of all family housing
units, including general or flag officer quarters: Provided,
That not more than $20,000 per unit may be spent annually for
the maintenance and repair of any general or flag officer
quarters without 30 days prior notification, or 14 days for a
notification provided in an electronic medium pursuant to
sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, United States Code, to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress,
except that an after-the-fact notification shall be submitted
if the limitation is exceeded solely due to costs associated
with environmental remediation that could not be reasonably
anticipated at the time of the budget submission: Provided
further, That the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is
to report annually to the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress all operation and maintenance
expenditures for each individual general or flag officer
quarters for the prior fiscal year.
Sec. 120. Amounts contained in the Ford Island Improvement
Account established by subsection (h) of section 2814 of
title 10, United States Code, are appropriated and shall be
available until expended for the purposes specified in
subsection (i)(1) of such section or until transferred
pursuant to subsection (i)(3) of such section.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 121. During the 5-year period after appropriations
available in this Act to the Department of Defense for
military construction and family housing operation and
maintenance and construction have expired for obligation,
upon a determination that such appropriations will not be
necessary for the liquidation of obligations or for making
authorized adjustments to such appropriations for obligations
incurred during the period of availability of such
appropriations, unobligated balances of such appropriations
may be transferred into the appropriation ``Foreign Currency
Fluctuations, Construction, Defense'', to be merged with and
to be available for the same time period and for the same
purposes as the appropriation to which transferred.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 122. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available
in an account funded under the headings in this title may be
transferred among projects and activities within the account
in accordance with the reprogramming guidelines for military
construction and family housing construction contained in
Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation
7000.14-R, Volume 3, Chapter 7, of March 2021, as in effect
on the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 123. None of the funds made available in this title
may be obligated or expended for planning and design and
construction of projects at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sec. 124. For an additional amount for the accounts and in
the amounts specified, to remain available until September
30, 2029:
``Military Construction, Army'', $167,000,000;
``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'',
$45,000,000;
``Military Construction, Air Force'', $68,000,000;
``Military Construction, Army National Guard'',
$44,000,000; and
``Military Construction, Air National Guard'', $33,000,000.
Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry
out construction and cost to complete projects identified in
the respective military department's unfunded priority list
for fiscal year 2025 submitted to Congress: Provided
further, That such projects are subject to authorization
prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out
construction: Provided further, That not later than 60 days
after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military
department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an
expenditure plan for funds provided under this section.
Sec. 125. All amounts appropriated to the ``Department of
Defense--Military Construction, Army'', ``Department of
Defense--Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'',
``Department of Defense--Military Construction, Air Force'',
and ``Department of Defense--Military Construction, Defense-
Wide'' accounts pursuant to the authorization of
appropriations in a National Defense Authorization Act
specified for fiscal year 2025 in the funding table in
section 4601 of that Act shall be immediately available and
allotted to contract for the full scope of authorized
projects.
Sec. 126. Notwithstanding section 116 of this Act, funds
made available in this Act or any available unobligated
balances from prior appropriations Acts may be obligated
before October 1, 2026, for fiscal year 2018, 2019, and 2020
military construction projects for which project
authorization has not lapsed or for which authorization is
extended for fiscal year 2025 by a National Defense
Authorization Act: Provided, That no amounts may be
obligated pursuant to this section from amounts that were
designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement
pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Sec. 127. For the purposes of this Act, the term
``congressional defense committees'' means the Committees on
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the
Senate, the Subcommittee on Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs of the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate, and the Subcommittee on Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs of the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives.
Sec. 128. For an additional amount for the accounts and in
the amounts specified for planning and design and for
construction improvements to Department of Defense laboratory
facilities, to remain available until September 30, 2029:
Military Construction, Army, $15,000,000;
``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'',
$15,000,000; and
``Military Construction, Air Force'', $15,000,000:
Provided, That not later than 60 days after enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned,
or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan
for funds provided under this section: Provided further,
That the Secretary of the military department concerned may
not obligate or expend any funds prior to approval by the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of
the expenditure plan required by this section.
Sec. 129. For an additional amount for ``Military
Construction, Air Force'', $100,000,000, to remain available
until September 30, 2029, for expenses incurred as a result
of natural disasters: Provided, That not later than 60 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
the Air Force, or their designee, shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both House of Congress an
expenditure plan for funds provided under this section.
Sec. 130. For an additional amount for the accounts and in
the amounts specified for planning and design, for child
development centers, to remain available until September 30,
2029:
``Military Construction, Army'', $25,000,000;
``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'',
$25,000,000; and
``Military Construction, Air Force'', $25,000,000:
Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military
department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an
expenditure plan for funds provided under this section.
Sec. 131. For an additional amount for the accounts and
amounts specified for planning and design, for barracks, to
remain available until September 30, 2029:
``Military Construction Army'', $25,000,000;
``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'',
$25,000,000; and
``Military Construction, Air Force'', $25,000,000:
Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military
department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an
expenditure plan for funds provided under this section.
Sec. 132. For an additional amount for the accounts and in
the amounts specified for unspecified minor construction for
demolition, to remain available until September 30, 2029:
``Military Construction, Army'', $15,000,000;
``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'',
$15,000,000;
``Military Construction, Air Force'', $15,000,000;
[[Page H3608]]
Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military
department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an
expenditure plan for funds provided under this section:
Provided further, That the Secretary of the military
department concerned may not obligate or expend any funds
prior to approval by the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress of the expenditure plan required by this
section.
Sec. 133. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to carry out the closure or realignment of the United
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
TITLE II
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veterans Benefits Administration
compensation and pensions
(including transfer of funds)
For the payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf of
veterans and a pilot program for disability examinations as
authorized by section 107 and chapters 11, 13, 18, 51, 53,
55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; pension benefits
to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 15, 51,
53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; and burial
benefits, the Reinstated Entitlement Program for Survivors,
emergency and other officers' retirement pay, adjusted-
service credits and certificates, payment of premiums due on
commercial life insurance policies guaranteed under the
provisions of title IV of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
(50 U.S.C. App. 541 et seq.) and for other benefits as
authorized by sections 107, 1312, 1977, and 2106, and
chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States
Code, $9,820,699,000, which shall be in addition to funds
previously appropriated under this heading that become
available on October 1, 2024, to remain available until
expended; and, in addition, $204,481,753,000, which shall
become available on October 1, 2025, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $22,816,224 of
the amount made available for fiscal year 2026 under this
heading shall be reimbursed to ``General Operating Expenses,
Veterans Benefits Administration'', and ``Information
Technology Systems'' for necessary expenses in implementing
the provisions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of title 38, United
States Code, the funding source for which is specifically
provided as the ``Compensation and Pensions'' appropriation:
Provided further, That such sums as may be earned on an
actual qualifying patient basis, shall be reimbursed to
``Medical Care Collections Fund'' to augment the funding of
individual medical facilities for nursing home care provided
to pensioners as authorized.
readjustment benefits
For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation benefits
to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 21, 30,
31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38,
United States Code, $2,657,656,000, which shall be in
addition to funds previously appropriated under this heading
that became available on October 1, 2024, to remain available
until expended; and in addition, $17,614,235,000, which shall
become available on October 1, 2025, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That expenses for rehabilitation
program services and assistance which the Secretary is
authorized to provide under subsection (a) of section 3104 of
title 38, United States Code, other than under paragraphs
(1), (2), (5), and (11) of that subsection, shall be charged
to this account.
veterans insurance and indemnities
For military and naval insurance, national service life
insurance, servicemen's indemnities, service-disabled
veterans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as
authorized by chapters 19 and 21 of title 38, United States
Code, $131,518,000, which shall become available on October
1, 2025, to remain available until expended.
veterans housing benefit program fund
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums as
may be necessary to carry out the program, as authorized by
subchapters I through III of chapter 37 of title 38, United
States Code: Provided, That such costs, including the cost
of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further,
That, during fiscal year 2025, within the resources
available, not to exceed $500,000 in gross obligations for
direct loans are authorized for specially adapted housing
loans.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $319,596,460.
vocational rehabilitation loans program account
For the cost of direct loans, $64,431, as authorized by
chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That
such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall
be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974: Provided further, That funds made available under
this heading are available to subsidize gross obligations for
the principal amount of direct loans not to exceed
$1,563,660.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the direct loan program, $493,868, which may be paid to
the appropriation for ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans
Benefits Administration''.
native american veteran housing loan program account
For the principal amount of direct loans as authorized by
subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code,
$75,000,000, to remain available until expended.
In addition for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the direct loan program, $5,845,241.
general operating expenses, veterans benefits administration
For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans Benefits
Administration, not otherwise provided for, including hire of
passenger motor vehicles, reimbursement of the General
Services Administration for security guard services, and
reimbursement of the Department of Defense for the cost of
overseas employee mail, $4,035,000,000: Provided, That
expenses for services and assistance authorized under
paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of section 3104(a) of
title 38, United States Code, that the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs determines are necessary to enable entitled veterans:
(1) to the maximum extent feasible, to become employable and
to obtain and maintain suitable employment; or (2) to achieve
maximum independence in daily living, shall be charged to
this account: Provided further, That, of the funds made
available under this heading, not to exceed 10 percent shall
remain available until September 30, 2026.
Veterans Health Administration
medical services
For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized by
law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to
beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and
veterans described in section 1705(a) of title 38, United
States Code, including care and treatment in facilities not
under the jurisdiction of the Department, and including
medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, food
services, and salaries and expenses of healthcare employees
hired under title 38, United States Code, assistance and
support services for caregivers as authorized by section
1720G of title 38, United States Code, loan repayments
authorized by section 604 of the Caregivers and Veterans
Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124
Stat. 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), monthly assistance
allowances authorized by section 322(d) of title 38, United
States Code, grants authorized by section 521A of title 38,
United States Code, and administrative expenses necessary to
carry out sections 322(d) and 521A of title 38, United States
Code, and hospital care and medical services authorized by
section 1787 of title 38, United States Code;
$75,039,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall become available
on October 1, 2025, and shall remain available until
September 30, 2026: Provided, That, of the amount made
available on October 1, 2025, under this heading,
$2,000,000,000 shall remain available until September 30,
2027: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a priority for the provision of medical treatment
for veterans who have service-connected disabilities, lower
income, or have special needs: Provided further, That,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for the
provision of basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment
priority groups 1 through 6: Provided further, That,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescription
drugs from Veterans Health Administration facilities to
enrolled veterans with privately written prescriptions based
on requirements established by the Secretary: Provided
further, That the implementation of the program described in
the previous proviso shall incur no additional cost to the
Department of Veterans Affairs: Provided further, That the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient
amounts appropriated under this heading for medical supplies
and equipment are available for the acquisition of
prosthetics designed specifically for female veterans:
Provided further, That nothing in section 2044(e)(1) of title
38, United States Code, may be construed as limiting amounts
that may be made available under this heading for fiscal
years 2024 and 2025 in this or prior Acts.
medical community care
For necessary expenses for furnishing health care to
individuals pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United States
Code, at non-Department facilities, $34,000,000,000, plus
reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 2025,
and shall remain available until September 30, 2026:
Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1,
2025, under this heading, $2,000,000,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2027.
medical support and compliance
For necessary expenses in the administration of the
medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction,
supply, and research activities, as authorized by law;
administrative expenses in support of capital policy
activities; and administrative and legal expenses of the
Department for collecting and recovering amounts owed the
Department as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42
U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $12,700,000,000, plus reimbursements,
shall become available on October 1, 2025, and shall remain
available until September 30, 2026: Provided, That, of the
amount made available on October 1, 2025, under this heading,
$350,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2027.
medical facilities
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation of
hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other
necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Administration;
for administrative expenses in support of planning, design,
project management, real property acquisition and
disposition, construction, and renovation of any facility
under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department; for
oversight, engineering, and architectural activities not
charged to project costs; for repairing, altering,
[[Page H3609]]
improving, or providing facilities in the several hospitals
and homes under the jurisdiction of the Department, not
otherwise provided for, either by contract or by the hire of
temporary employees and purchase of materials; for leases of
facilities; and for laundry services; $9,700,000,000, plus
reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 2025,
and shall remain available until September 30, 2026:
Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1,
2025, under this heading, $500,000,000 shall remain available
until September 30, 2027.
medical and prosthetic research
For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical
and prosthetic research and development as authorized by
chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, $923,514,000,
plus reimbursements, shall remain available until September
30, 2026: Provided, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under this
heading are available for prosthetic research specifically
for female veterans, and for toxic exposure research.
National Cemetery Administration
For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery
Administration for operations and maintenance, not otherwise
provided for, including uniforms or allowances therefor;
cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase of one
passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial operations;
hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alteration or
improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction of the
National Cemetery Administration, $495,000,000, of which not
to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September
30, 2026.
Departmental Administration
general administration
(including transfer of funds)
For necessary operating expenses of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including
administrative expenses in support of Department-wide capital
planning, management and policy activities, uniforms, or
allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for official
reception and representation expenses; hire of passenger
motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services
Administration for security guard services, $457,000,000, of
which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until
September 30, 2026: Provided, That funds provided under this
heading may be transferred to ``General Operating Expenses,
Veterans Benefits Administration''.
board of veterans appeals
For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Veterans
Appeals, $267,000,000 of which not to exceed 10 percent shall
remain available until September 30, 2026.
information technology systems
(including transfer of funds)
For necessary expenses for information technology systems
and telecommunications support, including developmental
information systems and operational information systems; for
pay and associated costs; and for the capital asset
acquisition of information technology systems, including
management and related contractual costs of said
acquisitions, including contractual costs associated with
operations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United
States Code, $6,231,680,000, plus reimbursements: Provided,
That $1,686,245,270 shall be for pay and associated costs, of
which not to exceed 3 percent shall remain available until
September 30, 2026: Provided further, That $4,544,475,000
shall be for operations and maintenance, of which not to
exceed 5 percent shall remain available until September 30,
2026, and of which $118,900,000 shall remain available until
September 30, 2028, for the purpose of facility activations
related to projects funded by the ``Construction, Major
Projects'', ``Construction, Minor Projects'', ``Medical
Facilities'', ``National Cemetery Administration'', ``General
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefit Administration'', and
``General Administration'' accounts: Provided further, That
$960,000 shall be for information technology systems
development, and shall remain available until September 30,
2026: Provided further, That amounts made available for
salaries and expenses, operations and maintenance, and
information technology systems development may be transferred
among the three subaccounts after the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs requests from the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer
and an approval is issued: Provided further, That amounts
made available for the ``Information Technology Systems''
account for development may be transferred among projects or
to newly defined projects: Provided further, That no project
may be increased or decreased by more than $3,000,000 of cost
prior to submitting a request to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress to make the
transfer and an approval is issued, or absent a response, a
period of 30 days has elapsed: Provided further, That the
funds made available under this heading for information
technology systems development shall be for the projects, and
in the amounts, specified in the table entitled ``Information
Technology Development Projects'' under this heading in the
report accompanying this Act.
veterans electronic health record
For activities related to implementation, preparation,
development, interface, management, rollout, and maintenance
of a Veterans Electronic Health Record system, including
contractual costs associated with operations authorized by
section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, and salaries and
expenses of employees hired under titles 5 and 38, United
States Code, $894,000,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2026: Provided, That the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress quarterly reports detailing
obligations, expenditures, and deployment implementation by
facility, including any changes from the deployment plan or
schedule: Provided further, That the funds provided in this
account shall only be available to the Office of the Deputy
Secretary, to be administered by that Office: Provided
further, That 25 percent of the funds made available under
this heading shall not be available until July 1, 2025, and
are contingent upon the Secretary of Veterans Affairs--
(1) providing the Committees on Appropriations a report
detailing the status of outstanding issues impacting the
stability and usability of the new electronic health record
system, including those that contributed to the October 13,
2022, deployment delay, along with a timeline and measurable
metrics to resolve issues, no later than 60 days after
enactment of this Act;
(2) certifying and detailing any changes to the full
deployment schedule, no later than 60 days prior to July 1,
2025; and
(3) certifying in writing no later than 30 days prior to
July 1, 2025, the following--
(A) the status of issues included in the report referenced
in paragraph (1), including issues that have not been closed
but have been suitably resolved or mitigated in a manner that
will enhance provider productivity and minimize the potential
for patient harm; and
(B) whether the system is stable, ready, and optimized for
further deployment at VA sites.
office of inspector general
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General,
to include information technology, in carrying out the
provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C.
App.), $296,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall
remain available until September 30, 2026.
construction, major projects
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of
the facilities, including parking projects, under the
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections
316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States
Code, not otherwise provided for, including planning,
architectural and engineering services, construction
management services, maintenance or guarantee period services
costs associated with equipment guarantees provided under the
project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and
storm drainage system construction costs, and site
acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project is more
than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title
38, United States Code, or where funds for a project were
made available in a previous major project appropriation,
$2,069,000,000, of which $1,265,000,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2029, and of which $803,700,000
shall remain available until expended: Provided, That except
for advance planning activities, including needs assessments
which may or may not lead to capital investments, and other
capital asset management related activities, including
portfolio development and management activities, and
planning, cost estimating, and design for major medical
facility projects and major medical facility leases and
investment strategy studies funded through the advance
planning fund and the planning and design activities funded
through the design fund, staffing expenses, and funds
provided for the purchase, security, and maintenance of land
for the National Cemetery Administration and the Veterans
Health Administration through the land acquisition line item,
none of the funds made available under this heading shall be
used for any project that has not been notified to Congress
through the budgetary process or that has not been approved
by the Congress through statute, joint resolution, or in the
explanatory statement accompanying such Act and presented to
the President at the time of enrollment: Provided further,
That funds provided for the Veterans Health Administration
through the land acquisition line item shall only be for
projects included on the five year development plan notified
to Congress through the budgetary process: Provided further,
That such sums as may be necessary shall be available to
reimburse the ``General Administration'' account for payment
of salaries and expenses of all Office of Construction and
Facilities Management employees to support the full range of
capital infrastructure services provided, including minor
construction and leasing services: Provided further, That
funds made available under this heading for fiscal year 2025,
for each approved project shall be obligated: (1) by the
awarding of a construction documents contract by September
30, 2025; and (2) by the awarding of a construction contract
by September 30, 2026: Provided further, That the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall promptly submit to the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a written report
on any approved major construction project for which
obligations are not incurred within the time limitations
established above.
construction, minor projects
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of
the facilities, including parking projects, under the
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, including planning and assessments of needs which
may lead to capital investments, architectural and
engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period
services costs associated with equipment guarantees provided
under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite
utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and
site acquisition, or for any of the purposes set forth in
sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United
States Code, not otherwise provided for, where the estimated
cost of a project is equal to
[[Page H3610]]
or less than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of
title 38, United States Code, $380,453,000, of which
$342,408,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2029,
and of which $38,045,000 shall remain available until
expended, along with unobligated balances of previous
``Construction, Minor Projects'' appropriations which are
hereby made available for any project where the estimated
cost is equal to or less than the amount set forth in such
section: Provided, That funds made available under this
heading shall be for: (1) repairs to any of the nonmedical
facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use of the
Department which are necessary because of loss or damage
caused by any natural disaster or catastrophe; and (2)
temporary measures necessary to prevent or to minimize
further loss by such causes.
grants for construction of state extended care facilities
For grants to assist States to acquire or construct State
nursing home and domiciliary facilities and to remodel,
modify, or alter existing hospital, nursing home, and
domiciliary facilities in State homes, for furnishing care to
veterans as authorized by sections 8131 through 8137 of title
38, United States Code, $156,000,000, to remain available
until expended.
grants for construction of veterans cemeteries
For grants to assist States and tribal organizations in
establishing, expanding, or improving veterans cemeteries as
authorized by section 2408 of title 38, United States Code,
$60,000,000, to remain available until expended.
cost of war toxic exposures fund
For investment in the delivery of veterans' health care
associated with exposure to environmental hazards, the
expenses incident to the delivery of veterans' health care
and benefits associated with exposure to environmental
hazards, and medical and other research relating to exposure
to environmental hazards, as authorized by section 324 of
title 38, United States Code, and in addition to the amounts
otherwise available for such purposes in the appropriations
provided in this or prior Acts, $22,800,000,000, which shall
become available on October 1, 2025, and shall remain
available until expended.
Administrative Provisions
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2025 for
``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and
``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' may be transferred as
necessary to any other of the mentioned appropriations:
Provided, That, before a transfer may take place, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the
authority to make the transfer and such Committees issue an
approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has
elapsed.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 202. Amounts made available for the Department of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2025, in this or any other
Act, under the ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community
Care'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical
Facilities'' accounts may be transferred among the accounts:
Provided, That any transfers among the ``Medical Services'',
``Medical Community Care'', and ``Medical Support and
Compliance'' accounts of 1 percent or less of the total
amount appropriated to the account in this or any other Act
may take place subject to notification from the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress of the amount and purpose of the transfer:
Provided further, That any transfers among the ``Medical
Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', and ``Medical Support
and Compliance'' accounts in excess of 1 percent, or
exceeding the cumulative 1 percent for the fiscal year, may
take place only after the Secretary requests from the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the
authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued:
Provided further, That any transfers to or from the ``Medical
Facilities'' account may take place only after the Secretary
requests from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress the authority to make the transfer and an
approval is issued.
Sec. 203. Appropriations available in this title for
salaries and expenses shall be available for services
authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code;
hire of passenger motor vehicles; lease of a facility or land
or both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, as authorized
by sections 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United States Code.
Sec. 204. No appropriations in this title (except the
appropriations for ``Construction, Major Projects'', and
``Construction, Minor Projects'') shall be available for the
purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any
new hospital or home.
Sec. 205. No appropriations in this title shall be
available for hospitalization or examination of any persons
(except beneficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or
examination under the laws providing such benefits to
veterans, and persons receiving such treatment under sections
7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States Code, or the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimbursement of the
cost of such hospitalization or examination is made to the
``Medical Services'' account at such rates as may be fixed by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 206. Appropriations available in this title for
``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and
``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' shall be available for
payment of prior year accrued obligations required to be
recorded by law against the corresponding prior year accounts
within the last quarter of fiscal year 2024.
Sec. 207. Appropriations available in this title shall be
available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding
prior year appropriations accounts resulting from sections
3328(a), 3334, and 3712(a) of title 31, United States Code,
except that if such obligations are from trust fund accounts
they shall be payable only from ``Compensation and
Pensions''.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
during fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall, from the National Service Life Insurance Fund under
section 1920 of title 38, United States Code, the Veterans'
Special Life Insurance Fund under section 1923 of title 38,
United States Code, and the United States Government Life
Insurance Fund under section 1955 of title 38, United States
Code, reimburse the ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans
Benefits Administration'' and ``Information Technology
Systems'' accounts for the cost of administration of the
insurance programs financed through those accounts:
Provided, That reimbursement shall be made only from the
surplus earnings accumulated in such an insurance program
during fiscal year 2025 that are available for dividends in
that program after claims have been paid and actuarially
determined reserves have been set aside: Provided further,
That if the cost of administration of such an insurance
program exceeds the amount of surplus earnings accumulated in
that program, reimbursement shall be made only to the extent
of such surplus earnings: Provided further, That the
Secretary shall determine the cost of administration for
fiscal year 2025 which is properly allocable to the provision
of each such insurance program and to the provision of any
total disability income insurance included in that insurance
program.
Sec. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease
proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by
that account during a prior fiscal year for providing
enhanced-use lease services shall be available until
expended.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 210. Funds available in this title or funds for
salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be
available to reimburse the Office of Resolution Management,
Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of Employment
Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, and the Alternative
Dispute Resolution function within the Office of Human
Resources and Administration for all services provided at
rates which will recover actual costs but not to exceed
$133,363,000 for the Office of Resolution Management,
Diversity and Inclusion, $9,606,581 for the Office of
Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, and
$7,686,000 for the Alternative Dispute Resolution function
within the Office of Human Resources and Administration:
Provided, That payments may be made in advance for services
to be furnished based on estimated costs: Provided further,
That amounts received shall be credited to the ``General
Administration'' and ``Information Technology Systems''
accounts for use by the office that provided the service.
Sec. 211. No funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs
shall be available for hospital care, nursing home care, or
medical services provided to any person under chapter 17 of
title 38, United States Code, for a non-service-connected
disability described in section 1729(a)(2) of such title,
unless that person has disclosed to the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, in such form as the Secretary may require, current,
accurate third-party reimbursement information for purposes
of section 1729 of such title: Provided, That the Secretary
may recover, in the same manner as any other debt due the
United States, the reasonable charges for such care or
services from any person who does not make such disclosure as
required: Provided further, That any amounts so recovered
for care or services provided in a prior fiscal year may be
obligated by the Secretary during the fiscal year in which
amounts are received.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
proceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing
activities (including disposal) may be deposited into the
``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor
Projects'' accounts and be used for construction (including
site acquisition and disposition), alterations, and
improvements of any medical facility under the jurisdiction
or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such
sums as realized are in addition to the amount provided for
in ``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor
Projects''.
Sec. 213. Amounts made available under ``Medical
Services'' are available--
(1) for furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and
equipment; and
(2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and other
expenses incidental to funerals and burials for beneficiaries
receiving care in the Department.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 214. Such sums as may be deposited into the Medical
Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38,
United States Code, may be transferred to the ``Medical
Services'' and ``Medical Community Care'' accounts to remain
available until expended for the purposes of these accounts.
Sec. 215. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into
agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in the
State of Alaska and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations
which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the
Indian Health Service, to provide healthcare, including
behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in rural
Alaska. The Secretary shall require participating veterans
and facilities to comply with all appropriate rules and
regulations, as established by
[[Page H3611]]
the Secretary. The term ``rural Alaska'' shall mean those
lands which are not within the boundaries of the municipality
of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 216. Such sums as may be deposited into the
Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant to
section 8118 of title 38, United States Code, may be
transferred to the ``Construction, Major Projects'' and
``Construction, Minor Projects'' accounts, to remain
available until expended for the purposes of these accounts.
Sec. 217. Not later than 30 days after the end of each
fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress a report on the financial status of the Department
of Veterans Affairs for the preceding quarter: Provided,
That, at a minimum, the report shall include the direction
contained in the paragraph entitled ``Quarterly reporting'',
under the heading ``General Administration'' in the joint
explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 114-223.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 218. Amounts made available under the ``Medical
Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and
Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'', ``General Operating
Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', ``Board of
Veterans Appeals'', ``General Administration'', and
``National Cemetery Administration'' accounts for fiscal year
2025 may be transferred to or from the ``Information
Technology Systems'' account: Provided, That such transfers
may not result in a more than 10 percent aggregate increase
in the total amount made available by this Act for the
``Information Technology Systems'' account: Provided
further, That, before a transfer may take place, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the
authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 219. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2025 for ``Medical
Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and
Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'', ``Construction, Minor
Projects'', and ``Information Technology Systems'', up to
$594,828,000, plus reimbursements, may be transferred to the
Joint Department of Defense--Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section
1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2571) and may be used
for operation of the facilities designated as combined
Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the
Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided,
That additional funds may be transferred from accounts
designated in this section to the Joint Department of
Defense--Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility
Demonstration Fund upon written notification by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress: Provided further, That section 220
of title II of division A of Public Law 118-42 is repealed.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 220. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of
Veterans Affairs which become available on October 1, 2025,
for ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'',
``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical
Facilities'', up to $664,625,000, plus reimbursements, may be
transferred to the Joint Department of Defense--Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund,
established by section 1704 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84;
123 Stat. 2571) and may be used for operation of the
facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities
as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law
110-417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That additional funds
may be transferred from accounts designated in this section
to the Joint Department of Defense--Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written
notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 221. Such sums as may be deposited into the Medical
Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38,
United States Code, for healthcare provided at facilities
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as
described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law
110-417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be available: (1) for
transfer to the Joint Department of Defense--Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund,
established by section 1704 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84;
123 Stat. 2571); and (2) for operations of the facilities
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as
described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law
110-417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That, notwithstanding
section 1704(b)(3) of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2573),
amounts transferred to the Joint Department of Defense--
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration
Fund shall remain available until expended.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 222. Of the amounts available in this title for
``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical
Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical Facilities'', a
minimum of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the DOD-VA
Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section
8111(d) of title 38, United States Code, to remain available
until expended, for any purpose authorized by section 8111 of
title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 223. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress
of all bid savings in a major construction project that total
at least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the programmed amount of
the project, whichever is less: Provided, That such
notification shall occur within 14 days of a contract
identifying the programmed amount: Provided further, That
the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress 14 days prior to the obligation of
such bid savings and shall describe the anticipated use of
such savings.
Sec. 224. None of the funds made available for
``Construction, Major Projects'' may be used for a project in
excess of the scope specified for that project in the
original justification data provided to the Congress as part
of the request for appropriations unless the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs receives approval from the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 225. Not later than 30 days after the end of each
fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress a quarterly report containing performance measures
and data from each Veterans Benefits Administration Regional
Office: Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall
include the direction contained in the section entitled
``Disability claims backlog'', under the heading ``General
Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'' in the
joint explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 114-223:
Provided further, That the report shall also include
information on the number of appeals pending at the Veterans
Benefits Administration as well as the Board of Veterans
Appeals on a quarterly basis.
Sec. 226. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide
written notification to the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to organizational
changes which result in the transfer of 25 or more full-time
equivalents from one organizational unit of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to another.
Sec. 227. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide
on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress notification of any single national
outreach and awareness marketing campaign in which
obligations exceed $1,000,000.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 228. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon
determination that such action is necessary to address needs
of the Veterans Health Administration, may transfer to the
``Medical Services'' account any discretionary appropriations
made available for fiscal year 2025 in this title (except
appropriations made to the ``General Operating Expenses,
Veterans Benefits Administration'' account) or any
discretionary unobligated balances within the Department of
Veterans Affairs, including those appropriated for fiscal
year 2025, that were provided in advance by appropriations
Acts: Provided, That transfers shall be made only with the
approval of the Office of Management and Budget: Provided
further, That the transfer authority provided in this section
is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by
law: Provided further, That no amounts may be transferred
from amounts that were designated by Congress as an emergency
requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget
or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of
1985: Provided further, That such authority to transfer may
not be used unless for higher priority items, based on
emergent healthcare requirements, than those for which
originally appropriated and in no case where the item for
which funds are requested has been denied by Congress:
Provided further, That, upon determination that all or part
of the funds transferred from an appropriation are not
necessary, such amounts may be transferred back to that
appropriation and shall be available for the same purposes as
originally appropriated: Provided further, That before a
transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and
receive approval of that request.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 229. Amounts made available for the Department of
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2025, under the ``Board of
Veterans Appeals'' and the ``General Operating Expenses,
Veterans Benefits Administration'' accounts may be
transferred between such accounts: Provided, That before a
transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and
receive approval of that request.
Sec. 230. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not
reprogram funds among major construction projects or programs
if such instance of reprogramming will exceed $7,000,000,
unless such reprogramming is approved by the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 231. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline under section
1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code--
(1) provides to individuals who contact the hotline
immediate assistance from a trained professional; and
(2) adheres to all requirements of the American Association
of Suicidology.
(b)(1) None of the funds made available by this Act may be
used to enforce or otherwise
[[Page H3612]]
carry out any Executive action that prohibits the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs from appointing an individual to occupy a
vacant civil service position, or establishing a new civil
service position, at the Department of Veterans Affairs with
respect to such a position relating to the hotline specified
in subsection (a).
(2) In this subsection--
(A) the term ``civil service'' has the meaning given such
term in section 2101(1) of title 5, United States Code; and
(B) the term ``Executive action'' includes--
(i) any Executive order, Presidential memorandum, or other
action by the President; and
(ii) any agency policy, order, or other directive.
(c)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a
study on the effectiveness of the hotline specified in
subsection (a) during the 5-year period beginning on January
1, 2016, based on an analysis of national suicide data and
data collected from such hotline.
(2) At a minimum, the study required by paragraph (1)
shall--
(A) determine the number of veterans who contact the
hotline specified in subsection (a) and who receive follow up
services from the hotline or mental health services from the
Department of Veterans Affairs thereafter;
(B) determine the number of veterans who contact the
hotline who are not referred to, or do not continue
receiving, mental health care who commit suicide; and
(C) determine the number of veterans described in
subparagraph (A) who commit or attempt suicide.
Sec. 232. Effective during the period beginning on October
1, 2018, and ending on January 1, 2026, none of the funds
made available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by this
or any other Act may be obligated or expended in
contravention of the ``Veterans Health Administration
Clinical Preventive Services Guidance Statement on the
Veterans Health Administration's Screening for Breast Cancer
Guidance'' published on May 10, 2017, as issued by the
Veterans Health Administration National Center for Health
Promotion and Disease Prevention.
Sec. 233. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the
Department of Veterans Affairs for the ``Medical Services''
account may be used to provide--
(1) fertility counseling and treatment using assisted
reproductive technology to a covered veteran or the spouse of
a covered veteran; or
(2) adoption reimbursement to a covered veteran.
(b) In this section:
(1) The term ``service-connected'' has the meaning given
such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(2) The term ``covered veteran'' means a veteran, as such
term is defined in section 101 of title 38, United States
Code, who has a service-connected disability that results in
the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of
fertility treatment.
(3) The term ``assisted reproductive technology'' means
benefits relating to reproductive assistance provided to a
member of the Armed Forces who incurs a serious injury or
illness on active duty pursuant to section 1074(c)(4)(A) of
title 10, United States Code, as described in the memorandum
on the subject of ``Policy for Assisted Reproductive Services
for the Benefit of Seriously or Severely Ill/Injured
(Category II or III) Active Duty Service Members'' issued by
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on
April 3, 2012, and the guidance issued to implement such
policy, including any limitations on the amount of such
benefits available to such a member except that--
(A) the time periods regarding embryo cryopreservation and
storage set forth in part III(G) and in part IV(H) of such
memorandum shall not apply; and
(B) such term includes embryo cryopreservation and storage
without limitation on the duration of such cryopreservation
and storage.
(4) The term ``adoption reimbursement'' means reimbursement
for the adoption-related expenses for an adoption that is
finalized after the date of the enactment of this Act under
the same terms as apply under the adoption reimbursement
program of the Department of Defense, as authorized in
Department of Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the
reimbursement limits and requirements set forth in such
instruction.
(c) Amounts made available for the purposes specified in
subsection (a) of this section are subject to the
requirements for funds contained in section 508 of division H
of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-
141).
Sec. 234. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act or any other Act for the Department of
Veterans Affairs may be used in a manner that is inconsistent
with: (1) section 842 of the Transportation, Treasury,
Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of
Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
(Public Law 109-115; 119 Stat. 2506); or (2) section
8110(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 235. Section 842 of Public Law 109-115 shall not
apply to conversion of an activity or function of the
Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits
Administration, or National Cemetery Administration to
contractor performance by a business concern that is at least
51 percent owned by one or more Indian Tribes as defined in
section 5304(e) of title 25, United States Code, or one or
more Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined in section
637(a)(15) of title 15, United States Code.
Sec. 236. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Labor, shall discontinue using Social Security account
numbers to authenticate individuals in all information
systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs for all
individuals not later than September 30, 2024:
(b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may collect and use a
Social Security account number to identify an individual, in
accordance with section 552a of title 5, United States Code,
in an information system of the Department of Veterans
Affairs if and only if the use of such number is necessary
to:
(1) obtain or provide information the Secretary requires
from an information system that is not under the jurisdiction
of the Secretary;
(2) comply with a law, regulation, or court order;
(3) perform anti-fraud activities; or
(4) identify a specific individual where no adequate
substitute is available.
(c) The matter in subsections (a) and (b) shall supersede
section 237 of division J of Public Law 117-328.
Sec. 237. For funds provided to the Department of Veterans
Affairs for each of fiscal year 2025 and 2026 for ``Medical
Services'', section 239 of division A of Public Law 114-223
shall apply.
Sec. 238. None of the funds appropriated in this or prior
appropriations Acts or otherwise made available to the
Department of Veterans Affairs may be used to transfer any
amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund
to any other account within the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Sec. 239. Of the funds provided to the Department of
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year
2026 for ``Medical Services'', funds may be used in each year
to carry out and expand the child care program authorized by
section 205 of Public Law 111-163, notwithstanding subsection
(e) of such section.
Sec. 240. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available in this title may be used by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement related to
resolving a dispute or claim with an individual that would
restrict in any way the individual from speaking to members
of Congress or their staff on any topic not otherwise
prohibited from disclosure by Federal law or required by
Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national
defense or the conduct of foreign affairs.
Sec. 241. For funds provided to the Department of Veterans
Affairs for each of fiscal year 2025 and 2026, section 258 of
division A of Public Law 114-223 shall apply.
Sec. 242. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to deny an Inspector
General funded under this Act timely access to any records,
documents, or other materials available to the department or
agency over which that Inspector General has responsibilities
under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), or
to prevent or impede the access of the Inspector General to
such records, documents, or other materials, under any
provision of law, except a provision of law that expressly
refers to such Inspector General and expressly limits the
right of access.
(b) A department or agency covered by this section shall
provide its Inspector General access to all records,
documents, and other materials in a timely manner.
(c) Each Inspector General shall ensure compliance with
statutory limitations on disclosure relevant to the
information provided by the establishment over which that
Inspector General has responsibilities under the Inspector
General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).
(d) Each Inspector General covered by this section shall
report to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives within 5 calendar days of any failure by any
department or agency covered by this section to comply with
this requirement.
Sec. 243. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used in a manner that would increase wait times for
veterans who seek care at medical facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 244. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act to the Veterans Health Administration
may be used in fiscal year 2025 to convert any program which
received specific purpose funds in fiscal year 2024 to a
general purpose funded program unless the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs submits written notification of any such
proposal to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress at least 30 days prior to any such action and an
approval is issued by the Committees.
Sec. 245. For funds provided to the Department of Veterans
Affairs for each of fiscal year 2025 and 2026, section 248 of
division A of Public Law 114-223 shall apply.
Sec. 246. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to conduct research
commencing on or after March 9, 2024, that uses any canine,
feline, or non-human primate unless the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs approves such research specifically and in writing
pursuant to subsection (b).
(b)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve the
conduct of research commencing on or after March 9, 2024,
using canines, felines, or non-human primates if the
Secretary certifies that--
(A) the scientific objectives of the research can only be
met by using such canines, felines, or non-human primates and
cannot be met using other animal models, in vitro models,
computational models, human clinical studies, or other
research alternatives;
(B) such scientific objectives are necessary to advance
research benefiting veterans and are directly related to an
illness or injury that is combat-related as defined by 10
U.S.C. 1413(e);
(C) the research is consistent with the revised Department
of Veterans Affairs canine research policy document dated
December 15, 2017, including any subsequent revisions to such
document; and
(D) ethical considerations regarding minimizing the harm
experienced by canines, felines,
[[Page H3613]]
or non-human primates are included in evaluating the
scientific necessity of the research.
(2) The Secretary may not delegate the authority under this
subsection.
(c) If the Secretary approves any new research pursuant to
subsection (b), not later than 30 days before the
commencement of such research, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of
Representatives a report describing--
(1) the nature of the research to be conducted using
canines, felines, or nun-human primates;
(2) the date on which the Secretary approved the research
(3) the USDA pain category on the approved use
(4) the justification for the determination of the
Secretary that the scientific objectives of such research
could only be met using canines, felines, or nun-hman
primates, and methods used to make such determination;
(5) the frequency and duration of such research; and
(6) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety,
and efficacy of the research, and animal welfare.
(d) Not later than September 9, 2024, and biannually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a
report describing--
(1) any research being conducted by the Department of
Veterans Affairs using canines, felines, or non-human
primates as of the date of the submittal of the report;
(2) the circumstances under which such research was
conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates;
(3) the justification for using canines, felines, or non-
human primates to conduct such research;
(4) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety,
and efficacy of such research; and
(5) the development and adoption of alternatives to
canines, felines, or non-human primates research.
(e) Not later than September 9, 2024, and annually
thereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs must submit to
voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections of
canine, feline, and non-human primate research facilities.
(f) Not later than September 9, 2024, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a
report describing --
(1) any violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the Public
Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals, or other Department of Veterans Affairs policies
related to oversight of animal research found during that
quarter in VA research facilities;
(2) immediate corrective actions taken; and
(3) specific actions taken to prevent their recurrence.
(g) The Department shall implement a plan under which the
Secretary will eliminate the research conducted using
canines, felines, or non-human primates by not later than
March 9, 2026.
Sec. 247. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use
amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in this
title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time
employment equivalents within any program of rehabilitation
conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code,
does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time employment
equivalent.
(b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
on the programs of rehabilitation conducted under chapter 31
of title 38, United States Code, including--
(1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio for each
such program; and
(2) recommendations for such action as the Secretary
considers necessary to reduce the veteran-to-staff ratio for
each such program.
Sec. 248. Amounts made available for the ``Veterans Health
Administration, Medical Community Care'' account in this or
any other Act for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 may be used for
expenses that would otherwise be payable from the Veterans
Choice Fund established by section 802 of the Veterans
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, as amended (38 U.S.C.
1701 note).
Sec. 249. Obligations and expenditures applicable to the
``Medical Services'' account in fiscal years 2017 through
2019 for aid to state homes (as authorized by section 1741 of
title 38, United States Code) shall remain in the ``Medical
Community Care'' account for such fiscal years.
Sec. 250. Of the amounts made available for the Department
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2025, in this or any
other Act, under the ``Veterans Health Administration--
Medical Services'', ``Veterans Health Administration--Medical
Community Care'', ``Veterans Health Administration--Medical
Support and Compliance'', and ``Veterans Health
Administration--Medical Facilities'' accounts, $1,323,444,000
shall be made available for gender-specific care and
programmatic efforts to deliver care for women veterans.
Sec. 251. Notwithstanding any other law, unless prevented
by an order issued by a federal or state court, by no later
than September 30, 2025, the Secretary shall commence
construction of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in
Bakersfield, California authorized in section 1(a)(3) of
Public Law 111-82 and in accordance with Lease
No.36C10F20L0008 or successor lease.
Sec. 252. Not later than 30 days after the end of each
fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress a quarterly report on the status of the ``Veterans
Medical Care and Health Fund'', established to execute
section 8002 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public
Law 117-2): Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall
include an update on obligations by program, project or
activity and a plan for expending the remaining funds.
Sec. 253. Any amounts transferred to the Secretary and
administered by a corporation referred to in section 7364(b)
of title 38, United States Code, between October 1, 2018 and
September 30, 2019 for purposes of carrying out an order
placed with the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to
section 1535 of title 31, United States Code, that are
available for obligation pursuant to section 7364(b)(1) of
title 38, United States Code, are to remain available for the
liquidation of valid obligations incurred by such corporation
during the period of performance of such order, provided that
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that such
amounts need to remain available for such liquidation.
Sec. 254. Unobligated balances available under the
headings ``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction,
Minor Projects'' may be obligated by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for a facility pursuant to section 2(e)(1)
of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and
Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-
294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note), as amended, to provide additional
funds or to fund an escalation clause under such section of
such Act: Provided, That before such unobligated balances
are obligated pursuant to this section, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to
obligate such unobligated balances and such Committees issue
an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has
elapsed: Provided further, That the request to obligate such
unobligated balances must provide Congress notice that the
entity described in section 2(a)(2) of Public Law 114-294, as
amended, has exhausted available cost containment approaches
as set forth in the agreement under section 2(c) of such
Public Law.
Sec. 255. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used to implement, administer, or otherwise carry out
the Department of Veterans Affairs interim final rule
published on September 9, 2022, or any successor to such
rule, or to propose, promulgate, or implement any
substantially similar rule or policy.
(b) None of the funds appropriated in this Act shall be
expended for any abortion, including through a medical
benefits package or health benefits program that includes
coverage of abortion.
(c) The limitations established in subsection (b) shall not
apply to an abortion--
(1) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or
incest; or
(2) in the case where a woman suffers from a physical
disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a
life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from
the pregnancy itself, that would, as certified by a
physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an
abortion is performed.
Sec. 256. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used for surgical procedures or hormone therapies for the
purposes of gender affirming care.
Sec. 257. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to fly or
display a flag over a facility of the Department of Veterans
Affairs or a national cemetery other than the flag of the
United States, the flag of a State, Territory, or District of
Columbia, the flag of an Indian Tribal government, the flag
of the Department, the flag of an Armed Force, or the POW/MIA
flag.
Sec. 258. During the period beginning on October 1, 2024
and ending on September 30, 2025, none of the funds made
available by this Act may be used to administer, implement,
or enforce the final rule issued by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs relating to ``Change in Rates VA Pays for Special
Modes of Transportation'' (88 Fed. Reg. 10032) and published
on February 16, 2023.
Sec. 259. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to carry out VHA Directive 1193.01, ``Coronavirus
Disease 2019 Vaccination Program for Veterans Health
Administration Health Care Personnel''.
Sec. 260. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to provide any services to any individual unlawfully
present in the United States who is not eligible for health
care under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs.
Sec. 261. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section
5502 of title 38, United States Code, in any case arising out
of the administration by the Secretary of laws and benefits
under such title, to report a person who is deemed mentally
incapacitated, mentally incompetent, or to be experiencing an
extended loss of consciousness as a person who has been
adjudicated as a mental defective under subsection (d)(4) or
(g)(4) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code,
without the order or finding a judge, magistrate, or other
judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such person
is a danger to himself or herself or others.
TITLE III
RELATED AGENCIES
American Battle Monuments Commission
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the
American Battle Monuments Commission, including the
acquisition of land or interest in land in foreign countries;
purchases and repair of uniforms for caretakers of national
cemeteries and monuments outside of the United States and its
territories and possessions; rent of office and garage space
in foreign countries; purchase (one-for-one replacement basis
only) and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed
$15,000 for official reception and representation expenses;
and insurance of official motor vehicles in foreign
countries, when required by law of such countries,
$90,020,000, to remain available until expended.
[[Page H3614]]
foreign currency fluctuations account
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the
American Battle Monuments Commission, such sums as may be
necessary, to remain available until expended, for purposes
authorized by section 2109 of title 36, United States Code.
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses for the operation of the United
States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as authorized by
sections 7251 through 7298 of title 38, United States Code,
$47,200,000: Provided, That $3,800,000 shall be available
for the purpose of providing financial assistance as
described and in accordance with the process and reporting
procedures set forth under this heading in Public Law 102-
229.
Department of Defense--Civil
Cemeterial Expenses, Army
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, and
improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and
Airmen's Home National Cemetery, including the purchase or
lease of passenger motor vehicles for replacement on a one-
for-one basis only, and not to exceed $2,000 for official
reception and representation expenses, $105,514,000, of which
not to exceed $15,000,000 shall remain available until
September 30, 2027. In addition, such sums as may be
necessary for parking maintenance, repairs and replacement,
to be derived from the ``Lease of Department of Defense Real
Property for Defense Agencies'' account.
construction
For necessary expenses for planning and design and
construction at Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and
Airmen's Home National Cemetery, $42,000,000, to remain
available until expended for planning and design and
construction associated with the Southern Expansion project
at Arlington National Cemetery.
Armed Forces Retirement Home
trust fund
For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retirement Home
to operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home--
Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces
Retirement Home--Gulfport, Mississippi, to be paid from funds
available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund,
$69,520,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, of
which $1,000,000 shall remain available until expended for
construction and renovation of the physical plants at the
Armed Forces Retirement Home--Washington, District of
Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Gulfport,
Mississippi: Provided, That of the amounts made available
under this heading from funds available in the Armed Forces
Retirement Home Trust Fund, $25,000,000 shall be paid from
the general fund of the Treasury to the Trust Fund.
major construction
For expenses necessary to support efforts to complete the
renovation of the Sheridan Building at the Armed Forces
Retirement Home--Washington, District of Columbia,
$31,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be
paid from the general fund of the Treasury to the Armed
Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund.
Administrative Provision
Sec. 301. Amounts deposited into the special account
established under 10 U.S.C. 7727 are appropriated and shall
be available until expended to support activities at the Army
National Military Cemeteries.
TITLE IV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 401. No part of any appropriation contained in this
Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current
fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
Sec. 402. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used for any program, project, or activity, when it is
made known to the Federal entity or official to which the
funds are made available that the program, project, or
activity is not in compliance with any Federal law relating
to risk assessment, the protection of private property
rights, or unfunded mandates.
Sec. 403. All departments and agencies funded under this
Act are encouraged, within the limits of the existing
statutory authorities and funding, to expand their use of
``E-Commerce'' technologies and procedures in the conduct of
their business practices and public service activities.
Sec. 404. Unless stated otherwise, all reports and
notifications required by this Act shall be submitted to the
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs,
and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives and the Subcommittee on Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
Sec. 405. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality
of the United States Government except pursuant to a transfer
made by, or transfer authority provided in, this or any other
appropriations Act.
Sec. 406. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used for a project or program named for an individual
serving as a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of
the United States House of Representatives.
Sec. 407. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in
this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on
the public Web site of that agency any report required to be
submitted by the Congress in this or any other Act, upon the
determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve
the national interest.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if--
(1) the public posting of the report compromises national
security; or
(2) the report contains confidential or proprietary
information.
(c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so
only after such report has been made available to the
requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for no less
than 30days.
Sec. 408. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used to maintain or establish a computer network
unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and
exchanging of pornography.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds
necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law
enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal
investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities.
Sec. 409. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used by an agency of the executive branch to pay for
first-class travel by an employee of the agency in
contravention of sections 301-10.122 through 301-10.124 of
title 41, Code of Federal Regulations.
Sec. 410. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used to execute a contract for goods or services,
including construction services, where the contractor has not
complied with Executive Order No. 12989.
Sec. 411. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used in contravention of section 101(e)(8) of title 10,
United States Code.
Sec. 412. (a) In General.--None of the funds appropriated
or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense in
this Act may be used to construct, renovate, or expand any
facility in the United States, its territories, or
possessions to house any individual detained at United States
Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of
detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the control
of the Department of Defense.
(b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to
any modification of facilities at United States Naval
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
(c) An individual described in this subsection is any
individual who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and who--
(1) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of
the Armed Forces of the United States; and
(2) is--
(A) in the custody or under the effective control of the
Department of Defense; or
(B) otherwise under detention at United States Naval
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Sec. 413. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may
be used in any way, directly or indirectly, to influence
congressional action on any legislation or appropriation
matter pending before Congress, other than to communicate to
Members of Congress as described in 18 U.S.C. 1913.
Sec. 414. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be made available to implement,
administer, apply, enforce, or carry out Executive Order
13985 of January 20, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 7009), Executive
Order 14035 of June 25, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 34593), or
Executive Order 14091 of February 16, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg.
10825).
Sec. 415. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to carry out any program, project, or activity that
promotes or advances Critical Race Theory or any concept
associated with Critical Race Theory.
Sec. 416. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 7 of
title 1, United States Code, section 1738C of title 28,
United States Code, or any other provision of law, none of
the funds provided by this Act, or previous appropriations
Acts, shall be used in whole or in part to take any
discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially,
on the basis that such person speaks, or acts, in accordance
with a sincerely held religious belief, or moral conviction,
that marriage is, or should be recognized as, a union of one
man and one woman.
(b) Discriminatory action defined.--As used in subsection
(a), a discriminatory action means any action taken by the
Federal Government to--
(1) alter in any way the Federal tax treatment of, or cause
any tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny,
delay, or revoke an exemption from taxation under section
501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of, any person
referred to in subsection (a);
(2) disallow a deduction for Federal tax purposes of any
charitable contribution made to or by such person;
(3) withhold, reduce the amount or funding for, exclude,
terminate, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, any Federal
grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement,
guarantee, loan, scholarship, license, certification,
accreditation, employment, or other similar position or
status from or to such person;
(4) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make
unavailable or deny, any entitlement or benefit under a
Federal benefit program, including admission to, equal
treatment in, or eligibility for a degree from an educational
program, from or to such person; or
(5) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make
unavailable or deny access or an entitlement to Federal
property, facilities, educational institutions, speech fora
(including traditional, limited, and nonpublic fora), or
charitable fundraising campaigns from or to such person.
(c) Accreditation; Licensure; Certification.--The Federal
Government shall consider accredited, licensed, or certified
for purposes of Federal law any person that would be
accredited, licensed, or certified, respectively, for such
purposes but for a determination against such person wholly
or partially on the basis that the person speaks, or acts, in
accordance with a sincerely held religious belief or moral
conviction described in subsection (a).
Sec. 417. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used for any office, programs,
[[Page H3615]]
or activity for the purposes of diversity, equity, and
inclusion training or implementation.
Sec. 418. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to enforce COVID-19 mask mandates.
Sec. 419. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to administer, implement, or enforce Executive Order
No. 14057 of December 8, 2021.
Sec. 420. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may
be used to implement any of the following executive orders:
(1) Executive Order No. 13990, relating to Protecting
Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To
Tackle the Climate Crisis.
(2) Executive Order No. 14008, relating to Tackling the
Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.
(3) Section 6 of Executive Order No. 14013, relating to
Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs To Resettle Refugees and
Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration.
(4) Executive Order No. 14030, relating to Climate-Related
Financial Risk.
(5) Executive Order No. 14057, relating to Catalyzing Clean
Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability.
(6) Executive Order No. 14082, relating to Implementation
of the Energy and Infrastructure Provisions of the Inflation
Reduction Act of 2022.
(7) Executive Order No. 14096, relating to Revitalizing Our
Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.
Sec. 421. (a) In General.--None of the funds appropriated
by this Act or otherwise made available for Fiscal Year 2025
for the Department of Veterans Affairs may be obligated or
expended to procure or purchase computers, printers,
software, or hardware needed for an office environment in
which the manufacturer, bidder, or offeror, or any subsidy or
parent company of an entity--
(1) in which the People's Republic of China has any
ownership stake; or
(2) that contributes to the defense industry of the Chinese
Communist Party.
(b) APPLICABILITY TO THIRD PARTIES.--The prohibition in
subsection (a) also applies in cases in which the Secretary
has contracted with a third party for the procurement,
purchase, or expenditure of funds on any of the equipment and
software described in such subsection.
spending reduction account
Sec. 422. $0.
This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction,
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2025''.
The Acting CHAIR. All points of order against provisions in the bill,
as amended, are waived.
No further amendment to the bill, as amended, shall be in order
except those printed in part B of House Report 118-535, amendments en
bloc described in section 3 of House Resolution 1269, and pro forma
amendments described in section 4 of that resolution.
Each further amendment printed in part B of the report shall be
considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only
by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read,
shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided
and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject
to amendment except as provided by section 4 of House Resolution 1269,
and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. It
shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on
Appropriations or his designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting
of amendments printed in part B of the report not earlier disposed of.
Amendments en bloc shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for
20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees,
shall not be subject to amendment, except as provided by section 4 of
House Resolution 1269, and shall not be subject to a demand for
division of the question.
During consideration of the bill for amendment, the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective
designees may offer up to 10 pro forma amendments each at any point for
the purpose of debate.
{time} 1245
Amendments En Bloc Offered by Mr. Carter of Texas
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1269, I
offer amendments en bloc.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
Amendments en bloc consisting of amendment Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, and 47 printed in part B of
House Report 118-535, offered by Mr. Carter of Texas:
Amendment No. 3 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado
Page 34, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
Page 35, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.
Amendment No. 4 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado
Page 35, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $3,000,000)''.
Page 40, line 2, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
Amendment No. 5 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado
Page 35, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.
Page 44, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
Amendment No. 6 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado
Page 35, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $3,500,000)''.
Page 43, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 7 OFFERED BY MS. BOEBERT OF COLORADO
Page 35, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $3,500,000)''.
Page 36, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 11 OFFERED BY MS. PEREZ OF WASHINGTON
Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 12 OFFERED BY MS. PEREZ OF WASHINGTON
Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 13 OFFERED BY MR. VICENTE GONZALEZ OF TEXAS
Page 36, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert
``(decreased by $2,000,000)''.
Page 36, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(decreased by $2,000,000)''.
Page 44, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 14 OFFERED BY MR. VICENTE GONZALEZ OF TEXAS
Page 44, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 15 OFFERED BY MR. GOTTHEIMER OF NEW JERSEY
Page 30, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 23 OFFERED BY MR. LaLOTA OF NEW YORK
Page 43, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $15,000,000) (increased by $15,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 24 OFFERED BY MR. LaLOTA OF NEW YORK
Page 9, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 25 OFFERED BY MR. LaLOTA OF NEW YORK
Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 26 OFFERED BY MR. LaLOTA OF NEW YORK
Page 34, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 27 OFFERED BY MR. LaLOTA OF NEW YORK
Page 34, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 30 OFFERED BY MS. NORTON OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Page 30, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
AMENDMENT NO. 47 OFFERED BY MRS. WAGNER OF MISSOURI
Page 4, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $200,000,000) (reduced by $200,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Carter) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman
Schultz) each will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support this
amendment. It contains a number of noncontroversial amendments from
both sides of the aisle. I encourage its adoption, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered
by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.
Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Bergman
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
[[Page H3616]]
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 34, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $20,000,000) (increased by $20,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Bergman) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chairman, last year, the gentleman from California
(Mr. Correa), my close friend and colleague, and I offered an amendment
urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a large-scale
study into psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat PTSD. I am happy to
say that amendment was approved unanimously.
It was 6 months after this show of congressional support that the
Veterans Administration announced that it would be funding significant
research into psychedelic therapies for the first time in more than
four decades.
While it is extremely promising that these treatments are coming,
with FDA final approval expected sometime in August, one of the largest
barriers to the initial implementation and future success is the
availability of qualified and well-trained mental health professionals
within VA.
Psychedelic-assisted therapies generally involve multiple therapists
at a time and several multi-hour sessions to complete.
My amendment is simple. It expresses support for the recently
announced VA-led research and encourages VA to prioritize the proactive
training of therapists to successfully administer these new therapies.
As we saw last year, demonstrating clear congressional approval for
these innovative efforts can motivate real action within the Federal
bureaucracy. We owe it to our veterans to do everything we can in
support of these breakthrough therapies.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, 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, the amendment has no budgetary
effect, but highlights an important issue for our veterans. I support
the efforts for the new treatment of PTSD so long as they are safe and
approved for use by the FDA. I am willing to accept the amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Correa).
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment, and I
thank my fellow co-chair of the Psychedelics Advancing Therapies
Caucus, Mr. Bergman, for his good work on this measure.
We have seen our Nation's veterans continue to needlessly suffer
suicides, mental health, and opioid overdoses. It is crucial that the
VA do everything in its power to ensure that they have safe and
scientifically sound and potentially lifesaving therapies as soon as
they are available and approved in the United States.
Today, Mr. Chairman, these veterans go to other countries to receive
these therapies. They are cured, and then they come back. Why in God's
name do we not provide these therapies here in the United States? It
doesn't make sense.
These amendments will give the Department of Veterans Affairs the
opportunity to continue research they have been conducting and the
potential to be able to offer MDMA-assisted therapies to our veterans
should they receive FDA approval.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Our
veterans fought for this country and sacrificed much for this country,
and it is our duty to give them the best therapies available for the
healing of those invisible wounds.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan has 2 minutes
remaining.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chairman, psychedelic-assisted therapies have the
potential to be the first genuine advancement in the treatment of
veterans' mental health in decades. It is essential that the VA
continue their efforts to research these compounds and do everything
they can to ensure that they have trained therapists and that those
trained therapists are ready to meet the need to provide these new
breakthrough treatments once they receive FDA approval.
Mr. Chair, again, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this
amendment, 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. Bergman).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Bergman
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. BERGMAN. 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:
Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $20,000,000) (increased by $20,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Bergman) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chair, this amendment would urge the Veterans
Administration to make a decision on incorporating MDMA-assisted
therapy into their formulary within 180 days of FDA approval. This is
based on legislation by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden),
which the Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved last month.
As we speak, the FDA's Scientific Advisory Committee is meeting to
evaluate the phase 3 studies into this therapy, and full approval will
likely come in early August.
I have had the opportunity to personally meet with many of the
researchers involved in this study and the veterans whose lives have
been forever changed by these therapies. That experience made the
potential of this treatment clear to me, and many of the veterans told
me that they would not be alive today if it were not for this therapy.
Any bureaucratic red tape that delays potential formulary inclusion
could cost the lives of veterans currently suffering from PTSD. This
amendment does not push VA to make a decision one way or another. It
merely calls for them to act quickly in making a formulary decision.
Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Correa).
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Bergman)
has laid it out. We have veterans with invisible wounds that they have
brought back from the battlefield.
One suicide is too many. We have MDMA therapy that is now being
proven to be sometimes 90 percent effective in curing these invisible
wounds. We owe it to our veterans, to our society, and to our friends
and neighbors who have served to bring these therapies to them as
quickly as possible.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chairman, I close by expressing my disappointment
and frustration with the language that was included--or rather was not
included in the committee's report accompanying this bill.
Despite strong support for useful and proactive language related to
psychedelic therapies, including from members within the Appropriations
Committee, the report only includes an indirect reference and
encourages VA to monitor the results of privately funded research. It
does not recognize the fact that VA is already pursuing their own
research, and it takes no steps to prepare the VA for FDA approval,
which may come in a couple of months.
[[Page H3617]]
Those who risk their lives in defense of our country deserve happy
and fulfilling lives, and we have the responsibility to ensure that the
VA is ready and able to assist them in this endeavor.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Bost
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 8
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. BOST. 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 the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used to enforce the provision
included in Chapter 1.8 of the VHA Office of Community Care,
``Field Guidebook: Specialty Programs'' to make wait time and
drive time access standards only applicable to primary care,
specialty care, and non-institutional extended care services.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Bost) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment to
the fiscal year 2025 MILCON-VA appropriations bill.
My amendment would rightfully prevent any VA funds from being used to
enforce a provision that excludes mental health residential
rehabilitation treatment programs from the wait time and drive time
access standards as authorized by the MISSION Act.
The VA's Mental Health Residential Rehab Treatment Program is a
crucial program that provides lifesaving treatment to veterans with
mental health and substance use disorders.
{time} 1300
Right now, veterans are restricted by where they can get their
treatment due to the Biden administration's misguided view of the
MISSION Act access standards.
As a result, veterans are being forced to wait months to receive this
care.
We are losing 17 veterans a day to suicide.
For VA to not do everything possible to ensure veterans are getting
into these treatment programs as quickly as possible is dangerous and
wrong.
Madam Chair, this administration knows that there are not enough
available beds in VA facilities to meet veterans' demand for them and
that is when the community providers step in, in partnership with the
VA. Getting veterans the help and support they need is the VA's top
clinical priority, as well as ensuring the mental health needs of
veterans are met without any delays.
It goes without saying that a veteran in crisis who needs treatment
should be eligible for community care without proof that they live far
from a VA, or their local facility is overbooked.
This is what the MISSION Act was designed to help with, but under the
administration they want proof.
I am proud to have introduced my amendment to prohibit VA from
excluding these vitally important treatment programs from wait time and
drive time access standards for VA community care programs.
There should be no closed door when it comes to lifesaving care for
veterans in crisis.
Madam Chair, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to
the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR (Ms. Malliotakis). The gentlewoman from Florida is
recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I will be clear that the
gentleman who is offering this amendment has been committed to driving
the VA toward privatization. That is what this is really all about.
Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment because
what his amendment would do is greatly expand the MISSION Act, which is
designated access standards to all categories of care and would seek to
greatly increase the privatization of the VA.
The MISSION Act was not envisioned to replace all care at all
facilities within VA with private care. It was intended to supplement
care at VA facilities, particularly, and specifically, when a veteran
was too far away from a VA facility that could provide the service or
when there was a prolonged period of time in which a veteran could get
that service.
Let's be clear: Where we are now in terms of the care in the
community and for veterans getting access to appointments, in many
cases, all across the country is that it actually takes longer for a
veteran to get an appointment when they try to get one in the community
than it does to get one at the VA. The overwhelming majority of
veterans, when they are surveyed, make very clear that they prefer
their care at the VA.
Implementing this amendment could have far-reaching ramifications and
would cost hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars a year
based on past CBO scores for similar legislation. It is interesting
given that the majority is cutting the funding at the VA by $6 billion
in this bill, so how we would ever be able to pay for this proposal is
incomprehensible to me. This amendment is a controversial authorizing
issue which should be considered in the appropriate authorizing
committee, which the sponsor of the amendment is chairman of that
committee.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Chair, I want to make sure that the people understand
that this amendment is not an act to try to privatize our VA. It is an
act to try to make sure that our veterans actually receive the services
that they need.
As a veteran, and as the many veterans that actually serve in this
body, it is vitally important that that issue is taken care of; not to
protect the bureaucracy at VA, but that we protect and serve the
veterans that we were sent here to serve.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, as I said, the gentleman from
Illinois can put all the bows and ribbons and wrapping paper that he
would like on what his amendment does, but it doesn't change the fact
that it would move VA not only further toward privatization, but flies
in the face of the original goal and the law that the MISSION Act is
intended to implement, which is to ensure that veterans who are not
able to get quick and timely access to care when they don't live close
enough to a VA facility that can provide that care or when the length
of time is unreasonable for them to get that care, that is not the case
in the situation in which this amendment would apply.
Plus, this amendment would cost an extraordinary amount of money,
millions and, likely, billions of dollars which has been previously
scored by CBO, and this bill cuts the VA by $6 billion.
Again, the mathing on the other side of the aisle is really not
working so well.
Madam 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 Illinois (Mr. Bost).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Burchett
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 9
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. BURCHETT. Madam 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 the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used by the Secretary of
[[Page H3618]]
Veterans Affairs to ban or remove the photograph ``V-J Day in
Times Square''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Chair, in light of all these other amendments, my
amendment seems a little light compared to other things going on, but I
bring it in all sincerity because I have had some constituents contact
me about this.
This basically just prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from
banning or removing the iconic photograph ``V-J Day in Times Square,''
otherwise known as The Kiss.
A few months ago, an Assistant Secretary at the VA sent a memo
directing regional offices to remove the photo, alleging it depicts a
nonconsensual act.
Secretary McDonough later reversed the decision, and I think it is
probably because his boss realized it is an election year.
This illustrates a larger problem within this administration, Madam
Chair.
This administration constantly removes or changes history because
they don't like the view from their rose-tinted glasses.
Madam Chair, World War II cost the lives of 330,000 American
soldiers, including my uncle. My father fought in that war, fought
valiantly in the Pacific.
World War II tore sons from their mothers and husbands from their
wives. It impacted every part of American society. The actions in this
photo are not really romantic as the woman said herself, the actual
woman in the photo. The actions in this photo are simply two people
rejoicing at the end of a terrible war and the defeat of terrible
enemies. More importantly, this photo represents the victory and peace
felt around the country and the world.
Madam Chair, I urge the Members to vote in favor of the amendment to
prevent the administration from removing this photo in the future, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Crane
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 10
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. CRANE. Madam 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 the bill (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 report a
determination under section 5502 of title 38, United States
Code, and section 3.353 of title 38 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, to the Department of Justice National Instant
Criminal Background Check System established pursuant to
section 103 of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (34
U.S.C. 40901).
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Crane) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
Mr. CRANE. Madam Chair, today, I rise in support of my amendment,
which clarifies that any veteran who is reported to NICS by a VA
fiduciary was done so incorrectly in violation of their constitutional
rights.
It also forces the VA Secretary to instruct the Attorney General to
remove these veterans from the NICS list.
Congress should not turn a blind eye to the 260,000 veterans who have
been wrongfully submitted to the FBI's National Instant Criminal
Background Check System.
Earlier this year, Congress passed appropriations which prohibited
this. In fact, last year, this exact language passed with 221
Republicans and 9 Democrats supporting it when it was considered by the
House.
Since then, a majority of House Democrats have come out against this
policy and are working with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
blatantly misuse VA funds, in conflict with congressional intent and
the will of the people, to continue disarming veterans; create an
unauthorized process for dragging veterans before judges for red flag
disarmament proceedings; and using unconstitutional State-level gun
confiscation laws against veterans, even outside the fiduciary program.
These lawless suggestions by my Democrat colleagues are the
nightmares of veterans that I represent and veterans across America.
President Biden will have no problem plowing ahead and stripping
veterans of their Second Amendment rights, and if this administration
can do this to veterans, they can do it to the rest of Americans.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam 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. Madam Chair, not only is this amendment bad
policy, but the underlying bill includes a prohibition on ensuring that
people who have been prohibited by law from getting access to a gun
because they have had a fiduciary appointed to take care of their
finances, meaning that they have had a determination that they are not
competent to manage their finances, this amendment would go even
further and eliminate the exception in the underlying bill that says if
a court has judicially determined that a veteran is incompetent and
appoints a fiduciary, even in that case, this amendment says that a
veteran would be able to keep their guns.
Under Federal law, when someone is deemed mentally incompetent by a
judge, which is a similar ruling that would occur in this case, the
gentleman offering this amendment would allow a veteran to keep their
firearms, even if a court had decided that they were not competent to
handle their finances.
That is unacceptable. This provision not only prevents the VA from
following the law that is intended to protect veterans and those around
them, but it prioritizes firearms over the safety of veterans.
The existing program has a full due process system, and veterans have
access to an appeals process.
This is an example of generating controversy where there is none.
The process of applying for disability benefits is separate from the
processes by which veterans receive VA healthcare. The Veterans Health
Administration does not take away veterans' firearms, but this
amendment by implying that VA bureaucrats are going to take guns away
from veterans, the provision not only does nothing to increase access
to care, it seeks to dissuade veterans from even seeking the healthcare
they have earned in the first place.
This is about whether we are going to keep veterans and those around
them safe.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized that the core of the
Second Amendment right is self-defense. Assigning a fiduciary to handle
financial benefits does not interfere with self-defense, but rather, it
is seeking to protect and avoid injuries and deaths from suicide and
accidents, which are rising when a veteran who is not competent to
handle much of their own personal business and a court has determined
that, we know there is a greater risk when they are handling a firearm.
We know that suicide is more likely. We know that killings take
place, and this amendment would make that more likely.
Madam Chair, I underscore my strong opposition to this amendment and
urge Members to vote against it, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
{time} 1315
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Crane).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by
[[Page H3619]]
the gentleman from Arizona will be postponed.
Amendment No. 16 Offered by Ms. Greene of Georgia
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 16
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Madam 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:
Page 8, strike lines 15 through 25.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentlewoman
from Georgia (Ms. Greene) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Georgia.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Chair, my amendment strikes funding for
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program.
My amendment would strike over $433 million in NATO funding from the
bill. America should not be doling out hundreds of millions of dollars
to international organizations to help them fight their enemies,
especially when they are unwilling to fight for themselves.
As of 2023, a majority of NATO countries do not meet their pledge to
spend a minimum of 2 percent of their GDP on defense. The United States
has been financing and promising to defend NATO countries for decades
and paying more than its fair share, all while countries like Germany
fail to fulfill their NATO obligations.
European countries could and should be stepping up their financial
contributions to ensure the security of NATO. Instead, they prefer the
U.S. taxpayer to foot the bill and, if the time comes, for American
servicemembers to die for them.
Our continued involvement in NATO only undermines the security of our
Nation because it embroils the United States in other countries'
military entanglements even if the United States has no direct
interests.
This is exactly what has happened in Ukraine, which could become a
part of NATO. Billions of American taxpayer dollars go to the
corruption capital of the world, and the sanctions placed on Russia end
up actually hurting Americans.
As long as we remain a member of NATO, the United States will
continue to function as the military ATM of European countries at the
expense of our own citizens, putting our own national security and our
economy at risk.
If the United States further involves itself in NATO, it may be
another 20 years of Afghanistan all over again, except the outcome may
end up being much, much worse.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, this amendment would completely
eliminate funding in this bill for the NATO Security Investment Program
during a time when we should be investing in much-needed infrastructure
projects.
I point out to my colleagues that worldwide in U.S. military
infrastructure, 30 percent of our military infrastructure is in fair or
poor condition. We should be investing in these much-needed
infrastructure projects. Cutting funding for the NATO Security
Investment Program is not only bad policy from a national security
perspective, but it is also not sound long-term fiscal policy.
The deterrence that NATO provides now is a small cost to avoid future
conflict. As I stated last year during debate on this issue, regardless
of your stance on overall defense spending levels of various NATO
countries, it is simply not true that the United States is paying more
than its share of this direct contribution program.
This amendment does not recognize the cost-effective benefit the NATO
Security Investment Program provides to the United States. The U.S.
contributes less than 16 percent of the funding for the NATO Security
Investment Program, but 44 percent of the locations for which projects
are selected benefit U.S. posture locations.
If the U.S. contributed at the same cost share relative to national
wealth that our allies do, our cost share would be 47 percent, rather
than the under 16 percent that we actually pay.
The United States' contributions to NATO represent only a small
portion of our defense spending, but the strength of the NATO alliance
is an outsized and irreplaceable part of American national security.
This amendment would not even reinvest the funding into other
priorities. It simply cuts $434 million.
As I stated in my opening statement, this bill is already a cut of
$718 million for military construction compared to the enacted level
from last year. This amendment would take the bill further in the wrong
direction and, if enacted, would leave military construction funded
over a billion dollars less than in fiscal year 2024.
Madam Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Chair, may I inquire as to how much time
is remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Georgia has 3 minutes
remaining.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Chair, the American people are very fed
up with their hard-earned tax dollars being sent overseas to countries
all around the world, especially when our own border is being
completely invaded every single day.
We don't have an idea of how many millions of people are in this
country. We know that it is upward of 12 million, while some estimates
go as high as 20 million. Our country is being invaded by people from
over 160 countries around the world.
We are talking about criminals, gang members, cartels, rapists,
murderers. All kinds of convicted criminals have come into our country
and are committing crimes against Americans.
Just recently, there was an illegal alien monster that was arrested
in the State of New York by NYPD that was released. When he was
released, because the justice system of New York did not prosecute him,
this monster then came to Georgia and murdered Laken Riley. These are
the types of crimes that are happening all over our country.
Just recently, Madam Chair, as I heard you speak earlier today about
two police officers who were killed in New York, these are the types of
things that Americans care about, the crimes that are being committed
against Americans. We are not interested in seeing our hard-earned
dollars go to countries that don't even meet their commitments.
Over half of the NATO countries have not met their pledge to spend at
least over 2 percent. We are talking about countries like France. We
are talking about countries like Denmark, Germany, Italy, Canada,
Turkiye, Spain, and many others that are not even paying and meeting
their pledge of spending at least 2 percent in NATO.
Yet, America is beyond our pledge. We are spending, in 2023, 3.5
percent of our GDP, yet we don't do anything to defend our own country
and our own borders.
This is why Americans would love to see Congress take action, action
to defund NATO and stop spending hundreds of millions of their hard-
earned money to defend these foreign countries while we don't defend
our own country and our own people.
Madam Chair, I urge Congress to vote for this amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, may I inquire as to how much time
is remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida has 3 minutes
remaining.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I think the sponsor of the
amendment has shown pretty clear evidence that she has no idea what the
NATO Security Investment Program is actually funding.
We are talking about funding that is provided to build infrastructure
that takes care of our troops who are overseas so that we can make sure
that we invest properly in infrastructure for a vast array of training
facilities, of national security facilities, of hangars that contain
our airplanes, military aircraft that costs billions of dollars.
Everything about what the amendment does actually makes our own
servicemembers, who are fighting overseas to defend our national
security interests and to defend our country, less safe.
[[Page H3620]]
I am not sure if the sponsor of the amendment has traveled to see our
military infrastructure around the world. I have.
Oftentimes, when we go as MILCON-VA Subcommittee, I have traveled
with Judge Carter to see some of our infrastructure. The appalling
conditions in which much of this infrastructure exists make it so that
our servicemembers are less safe.
I have been in hangars in which the doors don't close because they
are rusted, and the jury-rigging that our servicemembers have to do to
close the doors of some hangars to protect our very expensive equipment
that protects our national security interests would straighten my hair,
and that is not easy, Madam Chair.
We have a responsibility to make sure that the infrastructure that we
fund is in pristine, well-kept condition. What the sponsor of the
amendment would do is decimate our ability to do that. That is
irresponsible. It is unpatriotic.
We should not support this amendment. Members should vote against it.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Georgia
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 17 Offered by Ms. Hageman
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 17
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam 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 the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to decommission
mileage reimbursement kiosks.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentlewoman
from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wyoming.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment No. 17 to
H.R. 8580, which would prohibit the VA from continuing to decommission
mileage reimbursement kiosks in its facilities nationwide.
As the age-old saying goes, if it is not broke, don't fix it.
Unfortunately, this basic premise was disregarded when the VA decided
to quickly do away with mileage reimbursement kiosks at its facilities
nationwide, which had previously provided veterans with an easy-to-use
system to file their beneficiary travel reimbursement claims, among
other key functions.
These changes were made as part of the November 2020 rollout of the
VA's new online beneficiary travel self-service system, which sought to
reform the way in which these claims are submitted and processed.
Since its introduction, the VA's new system has been plagued with
countless issues and has ultimately disadvantaged a large segment of
America's veterans, such as those who live in rural areas, including
Wyoming, where access to the internet can be limited, and our elderly
veterans are not as familiar with this type of technology.
An OIG report from May 2023 highlighted that from February 2021
through July 2022, the new system fell short of all four of the VA
system performance goals. Initial feedback from veterans outside the VA
and veteran service organizations was never taken into account during
system development. The VA did not provide proper training to veterans
on how to enter claims in the new system until almost 5 months after
the system's launch.
Madam Chair, these mistakes are simply not acceptable. Combined with
the removal of the mileage reimbursement kiosks, these foundational
flaws have resulted in missed reimbursements and increased difficulties
for America's veterans.
While I certainly understand the need to streamline and improve upon
existing systems and processes, modernization should never come at a
negative cost to any of our veterans who have devoted their lives to
serving our Nation and safeguarding the freedoms that we hold dear.
It is our responsibility, and should remain our priority, to do
everything in our power to ensure our veterans can easily access the
benefits and care that they have rightfully earned.
Madam Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support my amendment, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1330
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this
amendment. CBO has reviewed this amendment and has indicated that it
would have significant budget authority and outlay effects in this
year. Translate that into English. It means that it would cost a lot of
money.
The bill already cuts $6 billion from the VA over the last fiscal
year. Furthermore, veterans can still receive their travel
reimbursements online, which simplifies the current process and the
need for hard-copy and in-person submissions, which is cumbersome and
unnecessary.
I believe we should let the VA manage this process in a way that is
efficient and cost-effective. This amendment micromanages the VA on
something that is really not appropriate for us to be doing in this
bill, and so I would urge its opposition. I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam Chair, I will repeat, this is for the benefit of
our veterans. This is a program that was not properly rolled out, and
our veterans are the ones who have suffered as a consequence. They are
the ones who have given their lives and their dedication to protecting
our freedoms.
It is critically important that we make sure that we make it as easy
as possible, as streamlined as possible for them to be able to seek the
reimbursement that they are entitled to. These kiosks have been
effective in doing that. Until there is an alternative that can replace
the kiosks, we should not be decommissioning them.
Madam Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lois Frankel), my neighbor slightly to
the north and a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague,
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for her fine work.
Madam Chair, I am the proud mother of a United States war veteran, so
I understand the risks that our brave men and women in uniform take for
our freedom.
It saddens me to say: My, my, my, here we go again. Republicans are
interfering with a woman's freedom to decide whether or when to start
or grow a family. This time they are going after the women who have
served our country in uniform.
This bill includes provisions that not only cruelly restrict access
to abortion but eliminate abortion counseling at the VA altogether,
impacting nearly 1 million veterans of childbearing age.
Madam Chair, I hope we can all agree that we owe our veterans nothing
less than our full support to help them maintain their health and well-
being. These proposed changes in this bill are not just a rollback of
medical rights; they are a profound failure to stand by our veterans
and a betrayal to honor our commitment to them.
I cannot support this bill because of some of these provisions,
including this one, and I urge my colleagues to vote against it.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam Chair, I don't think that there is anything that
epitomizes more the Democrats' obsession with abortion than bringing
that issue in relation to an amendment as to whether the VA should be
allowed to decommission kiosks for mileage reimbursement for our
veterans.
[[Page H3621]]
The fact that that is the only issue that they are able to address
when trying to find a way to make sure that our veterans are able to be
properly reimbursed for the expenses that they incur just, I think, is
a reflection on the Democratic Party as a whole right now. They are not
even capable of discussing anything other than abortion, even when the
amendment has nothing to do with that particular topic.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, as I said, I rise in opposition
to this amendment, particularly because CBO says that the cost of
actually implementing this would be astronomical, and the majority is
already cutting $6 billion out of this bill, so I don't understand how
they would expect VA to pay for what this proposal would require. We
are micromanaging the VA when we should be allowing them to manage this
process in a way that they think is most efficient and cost-effective.
I oppose the amendment and yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 18 Offered by Mr. James
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 18
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. JAMES. Madam 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:
Page 34, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,250,000) (reduced by $3,250,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. James) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
Mr. JAMES. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, an effort
to bring a mobile medical unit and/or community-based outpatient clinic
to my district, Michigan's 10th Congressional District.
There was a recent announcement from the VA that mobile medical units
are coming to Arizona and Texas. I believe there is also a very high
demand for them in Michigan. Many veterans, particularly those who
served in Korea and Vietnam in my district have come to me directly,
whether at the VFW Post 6691 in Fraser, Michigan, where I am now a
member, or just recently at the Memorial Day parade in Sterling Heights
about the need to have greater access to healthcare facilities for
those who may be declining in their mobility as they age.
Currently, many veterans in Macomb County have to travel too far and
too long to get the services they deserve. It is for this reason that
we need to bring one closer to home, directly where they are needed
most.
While the Dingell VA has made some strides to improve healthcare for
veterans in the metro Detroit area, there is still a great deal of work
to be done. I heard from women veterans, in particular, in my district
office about the need to have more choice and better quality of
services but also about staff turnover rate that is affecting their
quality of care. Community-based outpatient clinics and mobile medical
units are a path toward allowing veterans to get more specialized,
local-based care in a manner that they have very much earned.
As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day this week, we honor
the brave American soldiers who fought our Nation's wars abroad so we
may enjoy the privileges of freedom at home. As someone who served in
Operation Iraqi Freedom myself, I believe that their sacrifices should
be honored through our work here in Congress.
I know firsthand about the transition from military life to civilian
life. It is not easy. The least we can do is make VA healthcare more
available and accessible to our veterans. My amendment will further
these aims through funding for facilities like mobile medical units and
community-based outpatient clinics. I implore my colleagues to support
my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition,
although 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. Madam Chair, this amendment is
noncontroversial. I do not oppose it. It supports community-based
outpatient clinics and mobile medical units. I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mr. JAMES. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 19 Offered by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 19
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam 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:
Page 9, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentlewoman
from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Chair, I represent a district that
over 90,000 Active-Duty military members and their families call home.
As a former Navy helicopter pilot, military spouse, and now mom to
children who serve, I am proud to be a voice for our military community
here in Congress.
One of the aspects I am most passionate about advocating for is
improving their quality of life, particularly their living conditions.
To put it plainly, housing for our single, unaccompanied servicemembers
is abysmal, and it is completely unacceptable.
In September 2023, the United States Government Accountability Office
found a variety of living conditions were negatively affecting
servicemembers' quality of life, such as sewage overflow, mold and
mildew, broken windows and locks. I have seen it for myself and so has
my staff.
The week I was sworn into office, I took my entire team to Virginia
Beach and drove them around Naval Air Station Oceana to show them the
conditions we ask our unaccompanied sailors to live in. We visited
condemned barracks and other barracks that were decades old and had
very little maintenance and upkeep. We saw rusted bathrooms, moldy
ceilings, and dirty carpets.
To think of the conditions that we ask these often young,
unaccompanied sailors to live in, I think of college dorms. I am also a
mom to four children who are college aged, and we have done many
college tours recently and visiting dormitories on campuses. Seeing the
differences in where we are housing college-aged students and knowing
what those kids do a lot of nights a week, and looking at where we are
housing our unaccompanied servicemembers, knowing what we ask of those
young people, it was a stark contrast and stark difference.
Our young men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for
our country. It is only right to provide them with the quality of life
deserving of their service and sacrifice. It is infuriating to me that
we have not provided better for them.
Given the overall success of the military housing privatization
initiative for military family housing and our current budgetary
constraints, we need to think outside the box about housing solutions
for our unaccompanied servicemembers.
That is why I am offering this amendment to encourage the approval
and development of privatized housing for unaccompanied servicemembers,
like the ones we have right now in Hampton Roads and San Diego. We
cannot allow bureaucratic delays and fragmented approaches by the
different services to hamper our efforts to fix problems plaguing our
barracks on bases across the country.
We can and must work together to create better living conditions and
housing options for those who serve. I want my children and their peers
to be
[[Page H3622]]
proud of their Navy just like I was when I served.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to
support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to
the gentlewoman's amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, the gentlewoman's amendment is
bewildering to me. I understand and agree with the frustration toward
the deficiencies in housing for our servicemembers, including
unaccompanied housing, but a GAO report last year highlighted the
horrible conditions of some military unaccompanied housing and
inadequate oversight from the military services.
While the services are taking some steps to address these
deficiencies, our subcommittee has remained focused on a bipartisan
basis of addressing this issue. Privatization of unaccompanied housing
is not a universal answer to these problems, and it should not be a
first option. While the services are exploring pilot projects for
unaccompanied barracks, the feedback that our subcommittee has heard in
hearings this year is that the services do not view privatization as an
answer to this problem in all or even most cases.
We don't have to look far to see how privatization can go horribly
wrong. Privatized family housing has resulted in persistent,
unacceptable conditions for many military families, including houses
with mold, improperly addressed lead paint, untimely maintenance, and
companies which have not been responsive to their concerns.
Why? Because even the fines that are levied once these private
companies are held accountable are just a rounding error for these
multinational corporations who really don't have to worry about whether
they can afford the accountability that is meted out from their
neglect.
Oversight of privatized family housing remains a major issue to this
day. Even when privatization may result in better housing conditions
now, it is not a solution if companies don't properly maintain these
facilities for the full life cycle like they have neglected to do for
family housing.
Sure, if you have a private company build a private barracks now, it
is pristine and new, and has nothing wrong with it, but with the
neglect that is the track record of these private companies, down the
road we are going to end up potentially in the same boat.
{time} 1345
We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past. There may be specific
instances where privatized unaccompanied housing can be part of a
holistic plan by the services to address the deficiencies of
unaccompanied housing, but it is not and should not be the whole
solution. That is where this amendment takes us.
We should not repeat the privatized housing horror stories of the
past or waste untold millions more in critical taxpayer dollars on
privatized housing schemes.
I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Chair, I disagree with my colleague.
Privatization is one solution, and privatization of family housing has
come a long way.
Is it perfect, no, but it is a step in the right direction, and it is
certainly a lot better than what we used to have, which was simply the
defense budget and the government running all of family housing.
Family housing has come a long way since we have privatized it. There
is a lot of oversight needed, and Congress needs to continue to provide
the oversight so that we have the best family housing available for our
military families who serve right along with our Active-Duty servicemen
and -women.
Privatization is one way that we can think outside the box. The
defense budget is always inadequate. We just don't have the amount of
money that it takes to refurbish and redo all of the unaccompanied
housing, all of the barracks that we have seen and that were listed in
that scathing GAO report that came out. It is one solution.
Right now, we just have two. We have one in Norfolk and one in San
Diego. We have two models of privatization.
Having visited the one in Norfolk, it is amazing to see the quality-
of-life differences. They have private bedrooms. They have a communal
kitchen that has actual spaces for them to make nutritious meals.
We have things like a gym. There is a pool and even a Jacuzzi and
basketball courts. There is a theater room. There is a library.
There is plenty that offers the good quality of life that we know our
servicemen and -women need, especially when they come home after a long
deployment or after a long working day.
Those are the things that we can provide in privatized housing. Is it
a perfect solution, no, but it is a way to augment what we have right
now, and it is certainly a step in the right direction.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, the difference between the
gentlewoman's approach and ours is that we believe that the services
should continue to be able to take a measured approach to whether or
not using privatized unaccompanied housing is appropriate and whether
or not, as the gentlewoman's amendment would do, encourage the services
to go to privatization for unaccompanied housing.
We see the track record that is unfettered. Going forward on
privatizing housing has not gone well, and it has been expensive,
costly, and it has also contributed to the problem that we are having
with retention of our servicemembers.
We have heard testimony over the last few years from servicemembers
who have been in neglected privatized family housing, and it has caused
many of the servicemembers to throw the towel in and just say: You know
what? I wanted to make a career out of being in the military, but
obviously the services don't care about me and don't care about my
family or exposing my children to lead paint, mold, and other really
serious problems.
We are not at a point where we should be encouraging privatization of
housing. We should allow the services to take a measured approach to
pursue privatized unaccompanied housing when they think it is
appropriate and make sure that there is appropriate accountability in
place, which this amendment doesn't ensure.
I would urge Members to vote against it, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast).
Mr. MAST. Madam Chair, the argument here against privatized housing
for people in the military is if you allow somebody to put their
private dollars into it, then down the road it may turn into what the
government has allowed the housing to turn into, which would be
terrible. We shouldn't let a private entity oversee the housing because
it may turn into what the government has allowed housing to be for our
servicemembers.
That argument holds no water, makes absolutely no sense, and I would
put my money on the private entities taking better care of their
investment than how the government takes care of an investment that is
paid for by the ambiguous tax dollars of people across the country any
day of the week.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 20 Offered by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 20
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam 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:
Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentlewoman
from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans)
[[Page H3623]]
and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Chair, as a daughter of a veteran,
the wife of a veteran, as a veteran myself, it is particularly
important to me that our country keeps its promises to those who
served.
Virginia's Second District is home to one of the highest populations
of veterans in the country. An estimated 90,000 veterans live not
within our borders but across the ocean in U.S. territories and Freely
Associated States such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and other islands across
the Pacific.
We are responsible for providing care to all veterans, including
those that reside within U.S. territories and Freely Associated States.
However, there is evidence that VA's estimate of the number of
veterans living in these areas is far too low, and the Government
Accountability Office has consistently criticized the model used by the
VA to make these estimates.
This prevents the VA from allocating sufficient resources to serve
those veterans, leading to gaps in care.
In addition, the VA does not have community care network providers in
the Freely Associated States and limited local options for medical
care, and healthcare is often only available after traveling by plane.
Most veterans who live in one of the Freely Associated States do not
qualify for the VA travel benefits program, even though the closest VA
clinic is sometimes thousands of miles away on another island.
VA care in these areas does not live up to its promise. I urge the VA
to maintain and expand services available to these veterans, and I urge
my colleagues to support this amendment.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition,
although 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. Madam Chair, I will address the tail end of
the previous colleague's comments that represented a fundamental
misunderstanding of the way privatized military housing works.
The privatized companies aren't taking over housing that the
government built. They actually enter into a contract with the
military, and they build the housing brand new themselves.
The problem is that for decades, they have neglected it. They have
neglected the housing. They are terrible about follow-up on maintenance
and making sure that the housing is well cared for. They are leaving
people in mold, filth, vermin, and lead paint, and it is unacceptable.
Let's just be clear that the gentleman's reference to privatized
companies coming and rescuing government housing that has declined is
not correct.
The privatized family housing program and the barracks are new
construction that the privatized companies build, and then they neglect
taking care of it and neglect taking care of our servicemembers, which
is why we need to be careful about our approach in the future to
privatized family housing and privatized housing for unaccompanied
servicemembers.
This amendment is not controversial, and I am not opposed to it. It
supports medical care for veterans who reside in U.S. territories and
Freely Associated States, which both Mr. Carter and I have gone
together to see and to communicate about.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Chair, just to close, again, about
the privatization of housing. To look at and to compare and to enter
both facilities, those that are privatized, and those that are purely
funded by the Department of Defense, is it perfect, no, but it is a
heck of a lot better than the current conditions that we have our
unaccompanied servicemembers living in right now.
There are stark differences in those two pathways of life. I cannot
speak more favorably to the privatized model. Again, is it perfect, no.
Is there a lot of accountability and oversight that needs to happen,
yes.
That contract process could probably be perfected and worked on. That
is something that I think is in the responsibility of Congress.
We need to make sure that we have a contract with those privatized
companies who also have reputations on the line so they are not just
building and forgetting about those housing situations. They have
reputations too, and they want to take care of our servicemembers.
In reality, what is happening in the two models we currently have in
San Diego and Norfolk is a stark contrast to the DOD-funded, DOD-built,
and DOD-supervised housing that we currently see on base, and I can't
think of a better direction for our servicemembers.
As far as the VA carrying U.S. territories and Freely Associated
States, I again encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Molinaro). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 21 Offered by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 21
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. 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:
Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentlewoman
from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I had the honor of growing up in
a family with a strong history of service to our country.
My grandfather served in the Navy in World War II. My father served
as a United States Army Green Beret in Vietnam and later served in the
Army Reserves.
I spent some of the best years of my life in the Navy as a helicopter
pilot with many members who became like family to me.
As a third-generation veteran, the wife of a veteran, and a mother of
future veterans, I know how important it is to take care of our men and
women in uniform after they return home from service.
Unfortunately, these issues surrounding mental health are a complex
and unfortunate challenge for many of our Nation's heroes.
Since 9/11, it is estimated that over 30,000 Active-Duty
servicemembers and veterans have died by suicide. Most statistics
average approximately 20 a day.
This is four times more than the number of servicemembers killed in
combat during the global war on terror.
We have the responsibility to provide those who have served our
country with the medical care, including the mental health care and
support that they deserve.
While the VA has expanded their suicide outreach and mental health
initiatives, there is more work to be done. We cannot allow the men and
women who have served our country to slip through the cracks. We can
and we must do better.
That is why I have offered this amendment, to ensure the VA fully
funds and effectively executes mental health care programs with a
special emphasis on suicide prevention and outreach.
Returning home from combat and transitioning to civilian life is
often extremely difficult for our servicemembers.
Access to programs and resources for suicide prevention can help
those who are struggling and ultimately save lives. We must protect our
veterans, just as they have protected us. I urge my colleagues to stand
up for veterans and vote in favor of my amendment.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H3624]]
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition,
although 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, I really would invite the
gentlewoman from Virginia to take a tour of some of our privatized
military family housing where she would have an opportunity to see that
it is not better.
We have established some layer of oversight at the military service
level, but we have really decrepit conditions that still exist.
There are some beginning improvements, but there are millions of
dollars in fines that privatized military family housing companies have
had to pay because of their neglect.
Like I said, encouraging more privatized housing for our
unaccompanied servicemembers should be done in a selectful, choiceful
way, not just encouraging it to occur across all of our services.
This amendment is noncontroversial, and I am not opposed to it. It
supports mental health care programs with an emphasis on suicide
prevention.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, just to clarify, there is a
stark difference between family privatized housing and unaccompanied
privatized housing for our single servicemembers.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Edwards). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans).
The amendment was agreed to.
{time} 1400
Amendment No. 22 Offered by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 22
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. 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:
Page 24, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentlewoman
from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I represent a military-heavy
district with five bases, and all of those installations have buildings
that are in disrepair or condemned. I am shocked at some of the
conditions I see on the military bases in my district. I drive around,
and it is disheartening to see the buildings that are in disrepair,
that are falling apart, and that are eyesores.
I have driven in family housing where right across the street will be
an empty, old BOQ building that will have the doors swinging open and
the curtains blowing in the breeze from windows that are broken and
refrigerators sitting with their doors ajar out in the hallways. These
are buildings that are awaiting demolition that sit literally for years
and are eyesores. We haven't prioritized demolition projects on these
bases.
When I think about recruitment and retention for our all-volunteer
force, I worry about those impressions that we are leaving with other
families, with our military families and Active-Duty servicemen and -
women that are driving through bases.
Not prioritizing military demolition projects has created safety
issues directly affecting the quality of life and quality of service of
our military personnel, their families, and surrounding communities.
Poor conditions on military bases can hamper operational efficiency and
readiness. Condemned buildings may restrict space for training,
maintenance, and equipment storage. Lack of suitable facilities can
delay operations, hinder training exercises, and impact the overall
effectiveness of military units stationed on the base.
My amendment would ensure the Department of Defense allocates
additional funding specifically for the demolition of condemned
buildings on military installations. If we recognize the importance of
maintaining and improving our installation infrastructure, we can
ensure that we don't deter potential recruits and impact retention
rates.
Servicemembers and their families may be reluctant to stay in such
environments, affecting the overall strength and morale of the military
community. My amendment would ensure the necessary resources are
available to carry out the demolition projects efficiently and safely
by reducing bureaucratic red tape and expediting the review and
approval of demolition plans. It is crucial to address and improve
these poor conditions to ensure the well-being of military personnel.
I can't overstate that when we are so focused on recruitment,
retention, and quality of life, when I get in my minivan and I drive
around bases and see buildings that are falling apart, that are
dilapidated, that have broken glass, broken doors, those are eyesores.
I think of what kind of impression that leaves on a person who is a new
recruit right out of boot camp who shows up on a base and drives
through a series of these buildings that are due to be demolished, but
we can't get that done. When we call, when we pick up the phone and ask
base leadership, they say it is going to be several years from now. I
have to look at that building or other members of the service and their
families have to look at those buildings on their drive to and from
work, on their drives to and from commissaries or to and from their
jobs. We have to do better for our servicemen and -women.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to help make our military
installations more appealing and safer for members of our armed
services and to vote in favor of my amendment. I reserve the balance of
my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to
the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Florida is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is
noncontroversial, and I am not opposed to it. It encourages the Navy
and Marine Corps to effectively use its demolition funding. I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans).
The amendment was agreed to.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the
gentlewoman from Connecticut, and I move to strike the last word.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I rise to oppose the various
harmful policy riders included in this bill.
Specifically, there are two sets of riders that I believe are the
most poisonous. First, section 255 would prohibit the VA from
implementing a rule on abortions, essentially making it the law that a
woman veteran has to be dying in order to have access to an abortion.
Never mind if an abortion is in the best medical interest of the
veteran, this rider ignores that harsh but brutal reality that some
veterans will face. It further limits women's access to reproductive
care by prohibiting the VA from offering abortion counseling and making
it more difficult for women veterans to access abortion services.
Many of our Republican colleagues are obsessed with adopting a
national abortion ban, and their fanatic compulsion to control women's
bodies will apparently spare no one, even if it means stealing away
reproductive freedoms of the brave veterans who served to protect every
last one of our freedoms.
This radical agenda is so out of sync with Americans' political
mainstream, most self-described Republicans across
[[Page H3625]]
the country don't support it. It certainly should not be poisoning this
historically bipartisan bill that our veterans and servicemembers
desperately count on.
Further, sections 256, 257, and 416 are discriminatory riders against
our LGBTQI+ community. The riders block gender-affirming care, limit
the ability to fly the Pride flag at VA facilities, and create a
license to discriminate against the LGBTQI+ community under the guise
of religious freedom.
I was proud to sponsor amendments, joined by some of my Democratic
colleagues, that would have stricken these provisions, but the majority
blocked those amendments from receiving a vote.
Like the assaults on women's bodies, these extremist attacks
undermine the basic tenets of equality and inclusivity at the very
heart of our democratic values.
The VA should be welcoming and inclusive for everyone who volunteers
to sacrifice and serve our Nation, not just some of them.
I single out these two particularly odious sets of riders, because
unlike many of the genuine policy differences that we will have today,
these are both especially cruel, discriminatory, and destined to
shrivel under the unforgiving light of time and history.
We should all be uniting to ensure that veterans can find jobs, feed
their families, keep roofs over their heads, and get the care they
deserve, not dividing and politicizing their personal and medical
decisions.
For these reasons, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to
recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I
would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill.
My amendment would strike the harmful provisions I just described for
you.
Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of my amendment.
Ms. Wasserman Schultz moves to recommit the bill H.R. 8580
to the Committee on Appropriations with the following
amendment:
Strike sections 255, 256, 257, and 416.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues will join me
in voting for the motion to recommit, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Amendment No. 28 Offered by Mr. Mast
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 28
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. MAST. 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 the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. 419. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act
may be used to enforce Veterans Health Directive 1315 as it
relates to--
(1) the policy stating that ``VHA providers are prohibited
from completing forms or registering Veterans for
participation in a State-approved marijuana program'';
(2) the directive for the ``Deputy Under Secretary for
Health for Operations and Management'' to ensure that
``medical facility Directors are aware that it is VHA policy
for providers to assess Veteran use of marijuana but
providers are prohibited from recommending, making referrals
to or completing paperwork for Veteran participation in State
marijuana programs''; and
(3) the directive for the ``VA Medical Facility Director''
to ensure that ``VA facility staff are aware of the
following'' ``[t]he prohibition on recommending, making
referrals to or completing forms and registering Veterans for
participation in State-approved marijuana programs''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Mast) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. MAST. Mr. Chair, I rise today to discuss this bipartisan
amendment to ensure that veterans have access to every tool possible
when it comes to healing from both the visible and the invisible wounds
of war and service. That could be trouble sleeping. It could be
physical pain. It could be some disease that you get from something you
were exposed to in war, a cancer that you contracted. It could be an
addiction. It could just be finding peace in your life. That tool that
we are specifically speaking about today is cannabis.
My proposed amendment, I believe, is common sense. It allows doctors
in the VA, those who deal with veterans, to give advice to their
veteran patients. That seems simple enough, but under the status quo,
VA doctors are limited in essential treatment options that they can
offer to their patients, treatments that patients who are not veterans
can readily access in many States.
This amendment would allow doctors to discuss cannabis as a treatment
option with their patients. It would allow doctors to help those
patients fill out paperwork that authorizes medical use of cannabis. It
would allow those doctors to help weigh cannabis when choosing whether
other medical options may be the best fit for that individual veteran.
When I woke up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center after being injured
in Afghanistan, I was on a laundry list of medications. It was a shock
to me. I was on sleep sedatives, antidepressants, anti-inflammatories,
and probably half a dozen different, very serious narcotic painkillers.
When I woke up and became aware of all of this, I quit those things
cold turkey. I was lucky that I was able to do that. Most veterans that
I have encountered were not able to do that. Many, unfortunately,
suffered addiction afterwards.
A few years ago, I met a former member of Navy SEAL Team 6. He was in
a helicopter crash that resulted in catastrophic injuries. After
countless surgeries, he found himself addicted to opioids that he was
prescribed for sleep and pain management. He was never given an
alternative to those drugs, and, ultimately, it was cannabis for him
that allowed him to break free of that addiction and manage his pain
without opioids. However, he has never been able to discuss cannabis
with his doctor at the VA for fear of repercussions. He couldn't talk
to his doctor about it.
His story isn't unique. There are tens of thousands of veterans for
whom cannabis may be a better alternative if they could discuss it.
According to a survey in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol
Abuse, 50 percent of veterans who use cannabis said that they used it
in place of prescription medication, but they are forced to hide their
use and self-medicate because VA physicians are hamstrung from
discussing it as a viable option.
Beyond the veteran population, the Nation is turning the page on how
we think about cannabis. It has become a key part of the medical system
in more than 30 States. It offers law-abiding Americans a low-cost and
safe option.
I say we should not keep those who fought for our country from
accessing what is proven to be a critical tool for pain management. It
is time for change. Veterans deserve to have access to every possible
tool and the best medical options available and the best possible
medical advice by their doctors.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, I seek the time in opposition to the
amendment, although I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Oregon is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, I deeply appreciate the opportunity to
join my friends Representatives Mast, Lee, and Joyce in supporting this
amendment.
Mr. Mast talked about the necessity of providing our veterans with
the best possible treatment. I have heard from veterans across the
country how medical cannabis fills a critical need. There is less long-
term harm and more opportunities to be able to meet, as he said, the
wounds of war, seen and unseen.
This is ironic. The rest of the Federal Government is moving toward
the recognition of the long overdue need to reschedule cannabis. The
Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice
are soon going to reschedule cannabis to schedule III, recognizing that
it has medicinal value and recognizing the opportunities for more
research activities. At the same time, the Department of Veterans
Affairs is stuck in the past. As my friend mentioned, this poses
problems for veterans who cannot seek help from their
[[Page H3626]]
own physicians to get guidance and counseling for things where medical
cannabis would make a difference for them.
The rest of America has recognized the value of medical cannabis.
Thirty-eight States have approved it. As I said, where the rest of the
Federal Government is moving toward rescheduling, it is unfortunate
that the Department of Veterans Affairs is trapped in time, not giving
veterans the full benefit of medical cannabis. It is ironic because for
a time they were handing out opioids like Tic Tacs and have erred on
the side of overcaution dealing with medical cannabis.
Mr. Chair, I urge strongly the approval of this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MAST. Mr. Chair, I will add a little bit to what he just said.
He is absolutely correct, my colleague, in saying that there was a
time when veterans were handed opioids in bags. They were given
recurring prescriptions. There was a time that I had drawers full of
OxyContin just because the prescription kept getting refilled. I
literally never used one, but they kept giving me more and more. At the
same time, you are not allowed to discuss cannabis with your doctor,
not do the paperwork with your doctor, not be able to find out if it is
the best option or the worst option but really not be able to be
benefited by your doctor and the advice they could offer on this. As we
both said, it is definitely time to turn the page on this issue. I
thank my colleague for his work on this issue, as well.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1415
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, I deeply appreciate the leadership of my
friend from Florida, and his personal experience adds particular impact
to his leadership on this.
Another tireless champion for rational cannabis reform is
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, with whom I have been pleased to partner for
years now with the Congressional Cannabis Caucus in moving on a series
of reform proposals. She is a tireless champion. She will be missed in
Congress in the future, but luckily, we have her here now.
Mr. Chair, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Lee) to share her insights and her wisdom.
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Oregon
for his gracious comments and for his friendship, his support, and his
tremendous leadership. I look forward to working with the gentleman
also in the next chapter of our lives to make sure that all of our
efforts around cannabis are passed and signed into law.
I thank Mr. Mast, Mr. Joyce, and all who have allowed us to work,
again, in a bipartisan way to make it easier for veterans to access
medical cannabis in States where it is legal.
Mr. Chair, this amendment would authorize VA physicians to provide
recommendations and opinions regarding the use of medical cannabis to
veterans who live in States with existing medical programs.
Millions of American veterans suffer from, for example, mental health
conditions stemming from their service. Moreover, of the nearly 1
million veterans who receive opioids to treat painful conditions, more
than one-half continue to consume beyond 90 days, contributing
massively to the disproportionate overdose and suicide rates impacting
veterans.
As we continue experiencing the throes of the opioid crisis ravaging
communities across the country, from urban centers to rural areas, the
hands of VA physicians should not be tied when it comes to advising
around medical treatments that are scientifically proven to be less
harmful and less addictive, like State-legal medical marijuana.
I am the daughter of a veteran of two wars. He would have been helped
tremendously with many of his health issues had he been able to explore
medical cannabis options with his VA physicians. I saw him go through
wanting to explore all of these options, but he could not.
In his memory, Garvin A. Tutt, who was part of the 92nd Battalion in
Italy supporting the Normandy invasion, I am proud to co-lead this
amendment.
I thank all the co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. I
thank Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz and, of course, Mr. Joyce
for their leadership and partnership on this.
Mr. Chair, I urge our colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment
that would benefit our armed services members.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 29 Offered by Mr. Molinaro
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 29
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. MOLINARO. 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 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Molinaro) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chairman, without question, this Nation owes
enormous gratitude to the men and women who served and returned home.
So many of them carry with them both physical and mental health
injuries as they return home. We are compelled to do more to provide
for mental health treatment.
My amendment, amendment No. 29, highlights the importance of the
Veterans Health Administration Office of Mental Health's role in
assisting veterans across America, those living with intellectual and
developmental disability and those living with mental health and
substance use disorder challenges.
In August 2023 alone, 5.3 million veterans had a service-related
disability, and that number, as we know, continues to grow. They are
susceptible to debilitating illnesses, including PTSD, depression, and
traumatic brain injuries. They also remain at high risk of opioid use
disorder.
Veterans, without question, need our support. Their quality of life
depends on access to effective and high-quality medical treatment
services, and we must all come together to bolster the VHA's ability to
care for our veterans' physical and mental health needs. Whether in
rural centers or urban communities, it is necessary to broaden the
capacity and response to those veterans living with intellectual,
physical, or developmental disabilities and those addressing mental
health and substance use disorders.
Mr. Chairman, I certainly thank my colleagues for bringing forth the
amendment today. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. 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 gentlewoman from Florida is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is
noncontroversial, and I am not opposed to it. It assists veterans with
disabilities and mental health and substance abuse challenges. We
support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleagues for their support,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 31 Offered by Mr. Ogles
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 31
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
[[Page H3627]]
Mr. OGLES. 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:
Page 28, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, our veterans deserve the very best. It is
our job to make sure they get it.
That is why we are here during amendment debate to ensure that their
needs continue to be met after their honorable and heroic service to
the Nation.
The underlying bill appropriates $320 million to the VA Housing
Benefit Program Fund for administrative expenses to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs.
As many of my colleagues know, the VA loan program guarantees loans
made to servicemembers, veterans, reservists, and single surviving
spouses for the purchase of homes.
As veterans navigate the often cumbersome process of buying a home,
they should have access to as much information as possible that will
enable them to make the best financial decisions for their families.
That is all this amendment does.
If the VA accepted this recommendation, this amendment would ensure
that $1 million of the total administrative expenses funds appropriated
for the home loan program can be used for the development of improved
information materials regarding the relative benefits of a VA home loan
versus other types of housing loans for prospective buyers.
This is simply a reflection of the fact that while a VA home loan is
often the right choice for veterans who are trying to buy a home, the
benefits may not be as clearly presented as they go through the
process. If a VA loan would be better, then the veteran should know it.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition,
although I am not opposed to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR (Ms. Foxx). Without objection, the gentlewoman from
Florida is recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, this amendment is
noncontroversial, and I am not opposed to it. It supports the VA home
loan program, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her support.
Again, all we are trying to do here is make sure that our veterans
who have committed their lives and sacrificed for our country have
information as they are trying to provide for their families. We have
made promises, so this is promise made, promise kept.
Madam Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 32 Offered by Mr. Ogles
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 32
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. OGLES. Madam 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:
Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of my amendment to
prioritize increased support for our veterans suffering from post-
traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
The numbers don't lie and bear repeating: Over 20 percent of
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans have
received a diagnosis of PTSD. Our older veterans are also impacted.
Over 10 percent of Gulf war veterans and 15 percent of Vietnam veterans
are similarly impacted by this cruel diagnosis.
Unfortunately, current treatments do not always meet the needs of our
veterans suffering from PTSD. Therefore, it is vital that the
Department of Veterans Affairs invests more of its resources into any
treatment that can improve the daily lives of our veterans. One of
those treatments, SGB therapy, has been a cause championed by my
colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).
Madam Chair, I urge adoption of his amendment, as well.
Caring for our soldiers is the top priority of this Congress, whether
Democrat or Republican. This bill proudly carries the legacy of the
great promise from President Lincoln that the United States would
``care for him who shall have borne the battle.''
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition,
although I am not opposed to the gentleman's amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Florida is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, this amendment is
noncontroversial, and I am not opposed to it. It supports funding for
medical services for the treatment of PTSD, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her support.
PTSD is real. We have veterans suffering from it every single day.
``Promises Made, Promises Kept,'' that is our oath.
Madam Chair, I urge adoption of 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 Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 33 Offered by Mr. Ogles
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 33
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. OGLES. Madam 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:
Page 32, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, with many veterans in my family, this is
something that is near and dear to my heart as I have seen members of
my family having to drive long distances to receive care that otherwise
could have been provided at home.
I think of my Uncle Keith, who suffered and languished in the
hospital when he could have passed peacefully with his family in his
own home.
VA's Medical Community Care Program allows veterans to get the care
they need from community providers when the VA cannot do so. To
complement the VA's efforts to provide medical services to chronically
ill or disabled veterans through the community care program, this
amendment ensures additional funding specifically for in-home
healthcare.
If a disabled veteran would like to receive medical services from a
specific VA-approved community provider, and it would better facilitate
that veteran's care than other medical services, it should be a top
priority for the VA.
{time} 1430
This is plain and simple, common sense, providing the best healthcare
for those who have sacrificed so much for this country, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to
[[Page H3628]]
this amendment because this is yet another attempt at trying to
privatize veterans' healthcare.
Veterans have consistently made it clear that they prefer to get
their healthcare at the VA. That is where they are the most
comfortable. That is where they are served by people who have served in
the military, as well. It is a culture and an environment that ensures
that veterans are seen and treated by people who understand what they
have been through.
Multiple studies, in fact, have shown that non-VA care generally is
of lower quality and higher cost. In fact, since the enactment of the
MISSION Act, which was designed to shift patients from the Veterans
Health Administration to the private sector, costs have exploded.
Between fiscal year 2019 and fiscal year 2024, costs for medical
community care have grown by over $21 billion, or almost 140 percent.
My colleagues across the aisle often lament that government spending
is out of control. I agree that we shouldn't balance our budget on the
backs of our veterans, but we can take reasonable measures to ensure
that the care that we provide our veterans is not only of high quality
but is cost effective.
We should not be kicking into overdrive to privatize the healthcare
that our veterans receive. They wish and prefer to have their
healthcare provided for them at the VA.
This amendment would lead to an expansion of privatization. For that
reason, I oppose the amendment.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, when I think about my home State of
Tennessee, and particularly Maury County, where I reside, we have Maury
Regional Hospital, which is a community-owned nonprofit hospital. The
VA is over an hour away if veterans live where I live. If they live
further south, then the VA would be 1\1/2\ hours to 2 hours away. You
have a locally owned, community-owned hospital that is a nonprofit that
could provide these same services for our veterans, in our community,
at their homes, where they are not having to travel 1 hour or 1\1/2\
hours to get services.
This isn't about privatization. This is about prioritizing our
veterans as they seek medical care for the service that they gave to
their country.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, what the gentleman's amendment
does is it encourages the privatization of in-home healthcare that we
provide to our veterans.
The difference between providing care to our veterans from the VA and
providing privatized home healthcare is one can ensure that, within the
VA system, the veteran is cared for, oftentimes by another veteran or
by someone who is accustomed to treating veterans and understands the
unique and specific needs that they have.
Moving toward more and more privatization makes it so that veterans
are less likely to be treated soon, more likely to be treated with care
that is more expensive, and more likely to be treated by someone who
really doesn't have experience in caring for a veteran.
Madam Chair, none of those things are positive, so I urge opposition
to that amendment for that reason, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, I appreciate my colleague's comments, but I
would disagree. This is simply about prioritizing our veterans.
Again, I speak of my community. From where I live, the VA is over 1
hour away. Veterans can be served by their regional hospital, their
community hospital. In rural Tennessee, most of the hospitals are
community owned.
This is about allowing veterans, who otherwise would be 1 hour to 3
hours away from care, to be served and serviced in their community.
They are our veterans. They served the country. They have sacrificed,
and they deserve the best.
Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment. Promises made,
promises kept.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 34 Offered by Mr. Ogles
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 34
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. OGLES. Madam 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:
Page 36, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, the underlying legislation provides similar
funding to the Board of Veterans' Appeals as the fiscal year 2024
levels, approximately $267 million. This amendment recommends that the
Board of Veterans' Appeals invest a very small portion of its
appropriated funds to expedite and eliminate the casework backlog many
of our veteran constituents have raised with a variety of Members of
Congress.
Again, this is simply to get rid of the backlog, to expedite those
cases, as has been discussed here previously, so that our veterans can
get care in a quick, expeditious manner.
The committee report highlights sustained Member concerns regarding
the ongoing delays veterans and their families face. Claims can
currently take years to resolve.
I am grateful to see that the committee, under Chairman Carter's
leadership, has prioritized hiring needed staff to expedite processing.
This amendment stands in support of the committee's work.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Florida is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr.
Ogles), had a better idea on this one. It is noncontroversial, and I do
not oppose it because it supports the reduction in the backlog of
veteran casework, which we are all committed to doing.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her kind words.
This is a report ordered by this legislation that directs the VA
Secretary to produce a plan within 90 days that would eliminate the
veteran case backlog within 3 years. It is a simple, commonsense
approach of promises made, promises kept. Let's do that.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 35 Offered by Mr. Ogles
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 35
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. OGLES. Madam 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:
Page 43, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, coming from a family who has had family
members serve in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf
War, and the current war on terror, I have a near and dear place for
all of our veterans in my heart.
Specifically, I think about our World War II veterans and the
veterans of the Korea and Vietnam conflicts. We owe it to those who
risked life and limb to fight our Nation's battles, not only to have
our deepest gratitude and sympathy, but to have their service
recognized. They should know that we will stand with them through
disability, illness, and old age.
[[Page H3629]]
Again, to our veterans of World War II--there are not many of them
left--Korea, and Vietnam, we need to make sure that they have access to
excellent extended care. State extended-care facilities play a critical
role in living up to that promise.
State governments can place these facilities where they can best
serve veteran communities. They allow our veterans to find high-quality
nursing home care in their home States and near their communities so
they can enjoy the camaraderie of being surrounded by other residents
who know what it is to have served our country.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Florida is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, this amendment is
noncontroversial. I am not opposed to it because it supports the
construction of State extended-care facilities, particularly for those
who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. We need to take care of
those valiant soldiers.
Madam Chair, for that reason, I do not oppose the amendment, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. OGLES. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her comments.
Again, this encourages the VA to redouble its efforts in supporting
States in constructing and maintaining excellent facilities to serve
all veterans, especially the veterans of our foreign wars.
Promises made, Madam Chair, promises kept. That is what we must do.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 36 Offered by Mr. Perry
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 36
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. PERRY. Madam 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:
Page 31, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
Mr. PERRY. Madam Chairman, I thank the chairman for his hard work on
the bill. None of this is easy.
This amendment addresses a potential solution for our Nation's
veterans and servicemembers suffering with PTSD and PTSI. Estimates
from the VA paint a harsh picture that 7 percent of veterans will have
PTSD, with about 29 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans having
PTSD at some point in their lives.
Unfortunately, far too few of these brave men and women find relief
from currently available treatment in the VA, and failure here can mean
suicide. The average number of veteran suicides per day was 17.5 in
2021. I shudder to think that, every single day, 17 to 20 of our fellow
brothers and sisters in arms take their lives.
These numbers, quite honestly, are unacceptable. They are
unacceptable to this side of the aisle. I think they are unacceptable
to the other side of the aisle, and they are unacceptable to America.
That is why I am offering this amendment, which would increase and
decrease Veterans Health Administration funding by $1 million for the
purpose of furnishing stellate ganglion blocker, or SGB, treatment
therapy to veterans suffering from PTSD.
Already approved by the VA as a safe and effective alternative, the
stellate ganglion block procedure injects an anesthetic agent into or
onto a collection of nerves in the neck, and it is proven to alleviate
common PTSD symptoms.
In PTSD and some other anxiety conditions, the fight-or-flight
nervous system gets stuck in the on position. By precisely placing
anesthetic around the stellate ganglion, the unproductive and chronic
fight-or-flight response is turned off. This allows neurotransmitters
in the brain to reset back to a nonanxiety state and results in long-
term relief of the anxiety itself and the PTSD symptoms.
This procedure has already improved many lives while showing up to 85
percent efficacy at a fraction of the cost of other treatments that are
far less effective. Madam Chair, that is 85 percent.
Having this life-changing option for our veterans would give them a
chance to live more free from the effects of PTSD and its symptoms. Our
Nation's veterans should be the top priority, and they deserve to have
this treatment and this therapy when they need it.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, it is not the place of Congress
to be pushing for increased use of specific experimental treatments.
The VA is currently in the midst of a multiyear clinical trial to
collect data on this treatment for potential use in treating post-
traumatic stress disorder, but they do not yet have sufficient data one
way or the other regarding this treatment.
If this treatment is safe, effective, and appropriate for expanded
use, then the healthcare experts at the VA should be the ones to expand
the treatment for wider use. There is a deliberative process for
expanding the use of emerging healthcare treatments, and we should let
that process play out.
This specific treatment actually involves insertion into the neck of
an individual and could be potentially dangerous. We should make sure
that we are waiting out the results of the studies that are being done
before trying to impose a decision from the House floor.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PERRY. Madam Chair, the treatment is not dangerous at all. As a
matter of fact, it is offered in at least 11 VA facilities, but only
that many, and not all of the VA facilities. It has been around since
the 1920s. It is not dangerous at all.
As a matter of fact, there are no known side-effects. There aren't
any known side-effects. The people that get the treatment walk away 85
percent of the time without suffering the effects of PTSD.
As I sat there and watched the treatment being given, Madam Chair,
the patients have told me that they feel like a weight is lifted off of
them while the treatment is occurring. Those are specious claims.
The bureaucracy at the VA wants to conduct another study. Meanwhile,
it is allowed in some of their facilities, but not all of their
facilities. Meanwhile, while they are conducting another study, 17 to
22 of our veterans take their lives every day while they are conducting
another study. While offering this at some places but not other places,
servicemembers in Alabama are scraping up their last dollars to get on
a van with some of their other buddies to drive up here to get the
treatment because they can't get it down at the VA in Alabama.
{time} 1445
It is absurd. It is ridiculous. While they are conducting studies,
our servicemembers are taking their lives needlessly.
What I am asking is, instead of the current protocol, which says that
members of the military services who have earned this treatment, who
have earned the care, don't have to fail every single other thing that
the VA gives them before they can get this and, in the meantime, take
their lives because that is what happens, Madam Chair.
The VA requires, except in those other facilities, that the veteran
do all these other things, take all these other treatments that don't
work and have to fail every single one of them before they can say, oh,
please, VA, can you give me something that works, the stellate ganglion
block, the SGB,
[[Page H3630]]
which is done in the private sector, which is done at the VA.
I am just saying, instead of making veterans suffer and take their
lives before they can get the treatment, let them have the treatment
like the veterans in those 11 facilities that do offer it.
Why can't we do that? You can keep studying it. If you find some side
effect, well, God bless you, but right now, there aren't any and right
now, veterans are killing themselves.
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, the leadership of this committee
has been committed consistently to making sure that safe and effective
treatments are able to be provided to the VA, to our veterans who get
their care from the VA. It is just important to make sure that the care
that they are receiving is efficacious and that it is safe.
It would be helpful if the sponsor of the amendment understood the
sites that are offering this treatment are part of the study that is
being done. There is not a new study being proposed. We are not adding
time to this, but there is a process for expanding the use of emergency
healthcare treatments, and that is the responsibility of the VA to
manage.
Let's let them complete that process and then you could go fully
forward assuming that it proves to be efficacious and safe. I realize
that we have a horrific problem with PTSD, and we certainly are
dedicating vast resources to make sure that we can address suicide
prevention. Unfortunately, the Republican bill cuts the VA by $6
billion, so that commitment is not quite the same. Making sure that we
are providing safe, efficacious treatments for our veterans and that we
do not impose those decisions from the House floor is important.
That is why I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Crawford). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).
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 118-535.
Mr. PETERS. 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:
Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, 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. Chair, all veterans deserve a roof over their heads.
Far too many vets in San Diego remain homeless. We have to do more to
ensure our veterans and their families have access to quality,
affordable housing. The Housing and Urban Development-Veteran Affairs
Supportive Housing, known as HUD-VASH program, is a critical tool to
address this issue.
Earlier this year, local news in San Diego reported that nearly 35
percent of HUD-VASH vouchers, which San Diego received, went unused.
That is not acceptable. We have to do everything we can to ensure
veterans are receiving this assistance.
This bipartisan amendment simply encourages local VA systems and
public housing authorities to work together to streamline the voucher
application process for HUD-VASH vouchers to reduce barriers for
veterans seeking housing assistance.
VA San Diego is now taking the initiative by partnering with local
housing authorities to better align voucher applications across public
housing authority jurisdiction. This partnership provides a critical
pathway to connect veterans to housing.
The HUD-VASH program is critical for addressing veteran homelessness
in San Diego and throughout the country, and I urge all of my
colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this commonsense amendment.
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. Peters).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 38 Offered by Mr. Peters
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 38
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. PETERS. 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:
Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, 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. Chair, VA's Supportive Services for Veteran Families
program and Shallow Subsidy service provides low-income veterans direct
assistance to prevent the imminent loss of a veteran's home or to
identify a new, more suitable housing situation for them and their
families.
Funding for this program goes to every community across the country,
and in fiscal year 2024 alone, San Diego organizations received over
$17 million to provide these services.
My bipartisan amendment recognizes the important role this program
plays in preventing housing insecure veterans from falling into
homelessness. It is essential that we preserve this program and we show
strong support for this program for those who put on the uniform in
defense of our country. Keeping these veterans in their homes not only
preserves their safety and security, it also preserves their dignity.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bipartisan
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. 39 Offered by Mr. Pfluger
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 39
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. PFLUGER. 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:
Page 34, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Pfluger) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I rise today to present an amendment that
seeks to improve our understanding of the link between military service
and cancer risks, specifically among our aviators.
The amendment I am proposing to the fiscal year 2025 Military
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations
bill underscores our commitment to protecting and supporting our men
and women in uniform during their service and long after that, as well.
Specifically, my amendment calls for the Secretary of the VA to
allocate funds for collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine to study the prevalence and mortality of
cancer among individuals who served as Active-Duty aircrew in the Armed
Forces.
Tragically, military aviators and crewmembers are being diagnosed
with various forms of cancer at alarming rates. A 2021 study conducted
by the Air Force Research Laboratory's 711th Human Performance Wing
found that pilots and aircrew have higher risks of developing prostate
cancer and melanoma with possible links to Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and
testicular cancer.
Additionally, a study from the DOD found elevated rates of cancer
among military aviators and aviation ground personnel.
The existing evidence demonstrates a link between cancer and military
aviation service. However, we must gather more comprehensive data to
understand this correlation better and to properly care for our
servicemembers.
[[Page H3631]]
After putting their lives on the line for their country, our airmen
and -women deserve assurances that they will be cared for and not
exposed to unknown dangers. The U.S. military must understand any
potential health risks threatening our military heroes in the cockpit
or those serving as crewmembers.
As a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot myself, who has lost many
colleagues to cancer, this issue is personal to me.
My amendment ensures that cancer incidence rates are adequately
studied, that they are adequately understood, and that the military and
the Department of Defense has the tools that it needs to properly care
for our military heroes.
I think this is a commonsense amendment. It is building upon work and
studies that have already been done, and I would urge all of my
colleagues to support this as we support those who are serving and
protecting our country.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to
the amendment, 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. Chair, this amendment is noncontroversial,
and I am not opposed to it, particularly as a cancer survivor myself.
It supports the study of various cancers in military aviators, and it
is an important amendment.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, just to clarify, I am not sure what the
opposition is. I didn't hear what the opposition was.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, would the gentleman yield for the
purpose of a colloquy?
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida for
the purpose of a colloquy.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. There wasn't opposition. Procedurally, we rise
to claim time in opposition and then say we are not opposed to the
amendment. It is just procedural.
Mr. PFLUGER. Very good.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. That way I have an opportunity to speak.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Carter).
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this study.
My brother-in-law Kurt Brown died of the brain cancer known as the
ghost cancer, and he was both an Air Force pilot and a Delta pilot. I
always thought that the exposure to the high levels and the exposure to
the Sun had something to do with it. I personally support this and will
vote for it.
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 40 Offered by Mrs. Rodgers of Washington
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 40
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. 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:
Page 32, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)(increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentlewoman
from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my
amendment, which originated after a veteran from Spokane asked for my
help.
She had recently retired from service and was days away from her
first VA appointment when she had a heart attack. She was rushed to the
ER where she made a full recovery, but the VA refused to pay for her
care. Why? Because she hadn't seen a VA doctor in the last 24 months.
It didn't matter that she had just enrolled or that many VA
facilities have 30- to 60-day delays.
They denied her the coverage she needed, and her bills were piling
up.
That is why I introduced the RELIEVE Act to waive the 24-month rule
for 60 days following a veteran's enrollment in the VA healthcare
system.
My amendment today highlights the importance of helping veterans
establish care to ensure they qualify for outside emergency coverage.
It is time for Congress to eliminate the emergency coverage gap, and I
urge my colleagues to join me in making sure every veteran has access
to the treatment they have earned.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, 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. Chair, this amendment is noncontroversial,
and I am not opposed to it. It encourages the VA to address emergency
care coverage for veterans. I thank the gentlewoman for introducing it,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers).
The amendment was agreed to.
{time} 1500
Amendment No. 41 Offered by Mrs. Rodgers of Washington
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 41
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. 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:
Page 10, line 20, after dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by
$1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentlewoman
from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my
amendment to address the troubling state of housing for servicemembers
and their families at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane.
According to the Air Force, roughly 85 percent of the 650 privatized
homes at Fairchild were constructed in the 1950s. They are aging
rapidly and approaching a point where they will not be fit for families
living on base.
Reports of mold, cracks in the foundation, siding falling off,
chipping paint, and roofs in need of repair are just a few of the many
issues with the housing on base. Needless to say, this is unacceptable.
Our servicemembers and their families sacrifice so much for our
country. They deserve a comfortable, dependable home that isn't falling
apart around them, and it is our job to make sure they have one.
This amendment is critical for ensuring Congress has the ability to
conduct the oversight of the conditions of Air Force housing as we work
together to make the necessary and long-overdue renovations and
repairs.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and join me
in making quality housing for servicemembers and their families a top
priority.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to
the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Florida is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, the amendment is noncontroversial,
and I am not opposed to it.
The gentlewoman should know that Mr. Carter and I, and our entire
subcommittee, have worked for years to
[[Page H3632]]
help address the issues that we share your concerns on, particularly
privatized military housing. The conditions under which our servicemen
and -women and their families live have to be pristine. The response
time for those who are responsible for taking care of it needs to be
dramatically improved.
We have added funding in this bill at the DOD level to make sure that
DOD doesn't have a hands-off policy and just leaves all the
decisionmaking to the privatized companies. The DOD has a layer of
accountability now, as well.
I thank the gentlewoman for raising the issue because this is
important for us to provide good housing and safe roofs over the heads
of our servicemembers and their families.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 42 Offered by Mr. Self
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 42
printed in part B of House Report 118-535.
Mr. SELF. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Roy), and 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 the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. 423. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to modify or remove any display of the Department of
Veterans Affairs that bears the mission statement ``To
fulfill President Lincoln's promise `to care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his
orphan' by serving and honoring the men and women who are
America's veterans.' ''
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1269, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Self) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. SELF. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment by Mr. Roy.
This amendment prohibits any of the funding appropriated from being
used to modify or remove any VA display of the original mission
statement.
As you may know, the original mission statement came from President
Lincoln's promise: ``To fulfill President Lincoln's promise `to care
for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his
orphan,' by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's
veterans.'' They want to change it to a gender-neutral version: ``To
fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served
in our Nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and
survivors.''
We believe that that is a bridge too far, that we have changed the
original mission statement too much. The original mission statement is
posted in roughly 50 percent of all VA facilities, and now the VA has
been replacing them over the last couple of months. It is unclear which
displays have been changed and which have been replaced.
The Trump administration resisted calls to change the motto and put
an additional 140 plaques in national cemeteries bearing Lincoln's
quote.
Legislation changing the motto passed by voice in committee and on
the House floor in the 116th Congress.
We should not use tax dollars to allow the administration to
unilaterally change the VA's historic motto and to erase the words of
President Lincoln in order to appease the radical left. This is part of
our mission to claw back Article I authority from the executive branch.
The VA's mission statement, established in 1959, used approximately
the same words. This speech was part of the VA's creation of their
mission, and the Department wants to use hard-earned tax dollars now to
erase the 16th President's words said during the midst of the most
traumatic time in our Nation's history, the Civil War.
In one attempt, they want to erase Lincoln's words and earn woke
brownie points.
I am thankful for the millions of men and women who have served
valiantly in our Armed Forces, but changing the VA's motto is just
virtue signaling. We should be focused on providing the quality care
and benefits veterans have earned in a timely manner.
We just had a hearing with the Secretary of the VA this morning in
the Veterans' Affairs Committee. We are trying to keep them focused on
quality healthcare as opposed to other issues. There are still far too
many veterans who fail to get quality care at the VA, or if they do not
get an appointment, it takes months to schedule through community care.
Mr. Chair, we had a long discussion this morning about the failure of
the VA to get a handle on veteran suicide. That is where our focus
ought to be, as opposed to changing plaques on the wall to some sort of
woke motto.
We have the power of the purse to hold the administration
accountable, to stop the implementation of the VA's decision, and to
save the few remaining displays of Lincoln's work. This is a worthy and
noble goal, and I urge support for this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, the gentleman's debate on this
amendment was spoken like a man who is refusing to acknowledge that the
fastest growing group of veterans served by the VA is women.
In March of last year, the VA announced it was updating its 1959
mission statement to read: ``To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to
care for those who have served in our Nation's military and for their
families, caregivers, and survivors.''
That was a way to make the VA a more inclusive and inviting place and
to acknowledge that it is not only men who have served in our military,
nor is it only men who are served at the VA.
The VA's previous mission statement read: ``To fulfill President
Lincoln's promise `to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and
for his widow, and his orphan,' by serving and honoring the men and
women who are America's veterans.''
The VA is a place where all veterans should feel welcome, included,
and cared for. The previous mission statement did not adequately
reflect the modern-day veteran population by only honoring men's
service.
As I said, today, women are the fastest growing group of veterans. It
is about time that they are reflected in the VA's mission statement,
and I am pleased that the VA made this important and meaningful change.
What we are doing here now is, again, wasting time debating a poison
pill, culture war amendment that was put to bed and excluded in the
FY24 conference report. This was language that was removed last year.
We are going to have it removed again.
Essentially, what we are doing here is distracting from the fact that
the Republican majority has proposed a bill that cuts $6 billion from
the VA.
Forgive me if I really think it is disingenuous for the gentleman to
suggest that they care more about caring for our veterans when they are
cutting $6 billion out of our bill and, instead, focusing on the
adaptation of the VA's motto to be more inclusive of the fastest
growing group of veterans that are treated at the VA, which is women.
We should be focusing on that funding, actually meeting the Fiscal
Responsibility Act targets, and increasing nondefense discretionary and
defense discretionary by 1 percent, which the Republican majority
reneges on in this bill, not debating petty partisan riders.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SELF. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas has 1 minute remaining.
Mr. SELF. Mr. Chair, I agree with the gentlewoman about one thing:
This is the modern-day erasing of America's traditional history, which
is one of three things that they are trying to erase along with our
nuclear families and our Judeo-Christian faith.
It is only one of three things that they are trying to erase. That is
what they are trying to erase. That is why we need to stand by this
amendment because our families, our faith, and our history reflect what
has made America strong.
It does not leave anyone out. We are going to care for every veteran.
In fact,
[[Page H3633]]
she is right, the Veterans' Affairs Committee is focused on our lady
veterans in many ways. So this is a distraction from this bill. Let's
keep our history where it is. Let's keep our nuclear families and our
Judeo-Christian faith.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, for the fastest growing group of
veterans, our women, who walk into a VA facility and see the VA mission
statement displayed on the wall that only refers to men who served is
outrageous. That is not inclusive, and that does not reflect or
recognize that we have thousands and thousands of women serving in our
military.
The VA is supposed to take care of all of those veterans. So I will
close, Mr. Chairman, by saying that if people show you who they are,
you should believe them. That is why I am opposed to this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will
be postponed.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now
rise.
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Self) having assumed the chair, Mr. Crawford, 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. 8580)
making appropriations for military construction, the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2025, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution
thereon.
____________________