[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]




                              {time}  1200
     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.

                              {time}  1204


                     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.

[[Page H3602]]

  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.

                              {time}  1215

  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.

[[Page H3603]]

  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.

                              {time}  1230

  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

[[Page H3604]]

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

[[Page H3605]]

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.

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