[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6559-6612]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2015


                             General Leave

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on consideration of H.R. 4486, and that 
I may include tabular material on the same.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 557 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. 4486.
  The Chair appoints the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Webster) to 
preside over the Committee of the Whole.

                              {time}  1343


                     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. 4486) making appropriations for military construction, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes, with Mr. 
Webster of Florida 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.
  The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson) and the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Bishop) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  It is a real honor and a privilege for me to present the Veterans 
Affairs and Military Construction Appropriations bill to the House of 
Representatives with my good friend from Georgia, Sanford Bishop.
  This is a bipartisan bill that we produced together with unanimous 
support of the committee and the subcommittee to ensure that our 
veterans and our men and women in uniform have everything that they 
need to do their job with complete peace of mind.
  In fact, I often think of the job of this subcommittee as the peace 
of mind subcommittee, to be sure that our men and women in uniform have 
everything they need when it comes to their physical infrastructure and 
that, when they leave the services and go into the VA system, they have 
everything they need.

                              {time}  1345

  Making sure that our men and women in uniform have everything that 
they need and making sure that our veterans when they leave the service 
have the best possible medical care this country can provide is one of 
those fundamental functions of the government. We have an obligation as 
guardians of the Treasury and as good stewards of taxpayers' hard-
earned dollars to ensure that this vital, core function of our Federal 
Government is fulfilled to our veterans and to our men and women in 
uniform.
  In this appropriations bill, we have included $71.5 billion in 
discretionary funding, which is $1.8 billion less than last year and 
$398 million less than the budget request. We have provided the full 
budget request number of $6.6 billion for military construction 
projects, and while we have provided $1.8 billion less in fiscal year 
'14, we have included $64.7 billion in discretionary funding for the 
VA, which is about $1.5 billion more than last year. We have included 
an additional $20 million to get at the claims backlog and $17 million 
more than was requested for electronic medical records.
  In this legislation, we are ensuring that we have continued strict 
oversight of the VA in their reporting requirements on the claims 
backlog. The length of time it takes veterans to receive the disability 
benefits that they have earned is just unacceptable, so Mr. Bishop and 
I have included language in this bill to have very strict reporting 
requirements over which we will continue to exercise vigorous oversight 
in the months ahead at the VA to ensure that the claims backlog is 
reduced.
  We are also introducing a mechanism here that we have found to be 
very, very effective in the case of electronic health records. The VA 
and the Department of Defense are operating two completely different 
medical record systems that don't talk to each other. So, when you are 
in uniform in the Armed Forces and leave and go into the private sector 
and when the VA picks you up, the VA can't read your medical records. 
This is unacceptable. Since 2008, the Congress has had laws on the 
books that require the VA and the Department of Defense to have 
transparent, interoperable medical records that would be easily and 
quickly readable when a servicemember leaves the active service and 
goes into the VA system. Yet they are still not there, so we have in 
this bill a mechanism that says you are only going to get 25 percent of 
your money up front on implementing electronic health records until you 
come back to the committee and show us that you are meeting your 
obligation under the law to provide an immediate, seamless, and 
transparent transfer of your medical records from the Department of 
Defense to the VA.
  In particular, I want to thank Chairman Rogers for his support in 
this effort. He had a constituent of whom I

[[Page 6560]]

am confident he will talk about in a minute--a young man in his 
district who really struck a chord with me. It is a tragic example of 
how unacceptable this is, that one agency can't read the medical 
records of the other. He is a young man who was injured. He lost his 
eyesight, I believe, Mr. Chairman, in Afghanistan. He had the vision in 
one eye lost, but had damage in the other eye. He still had some vision 
in the other eye, so when he left the service to go into the VA and 
when the VA needed to work on his other eye immediately in order to 
save his vision, the VA could not read the medical records provided to 
them by the Department of Defense. The doctors at the VA, 
understandably being cautious and concerned and being unable to read 
the records, didn't operate as quickly as they should have, and the 
young man lost his eyesight as a result of the medical records being 
unreadable by the VA. It is tragic, unacceptable, and utterly 
outrageous.
  I am working closely with the chairman of the armed services 
Appropriations subcommittee. Chairman Rogers has been terrifically 
helpful in this as has Ranking Member Lowey and my good friend Mr. 
Bishop from Georgia. We are working with the armed services 
subcommittee in Appropriations to put identical language in the bill so 
that the DOD is in the same boat.
  You are going to have to earn your money. Prove to us that you are 
obeying the law, that you are fulfilling your obligation to our 
veterans and to our men and women in uniform, and then we will release 
the money. Follow the law and you will get your money. It works every 
time in the private sector. Certainly, I am confident that it is going 
to work here. I often think of the fact that I have been using an Apple 
Macintosh computer since they first came out in 1985. I never dreamed 
that you would be able to use a Windows operating system on a Macintosh 
computer, but, today, you can run Microsoft Word and other Windows 
programs on a Macintosh operating system. Surely, if Apple and Windows 
can work it out, the VA and the Department of Defense can as well. This 
bill ensures that that is going to happen. If they want to see the rest 
of their money, they are going to have to obey the law and get an 
interoperable, transparent medical records system in place.
  Mr. Chairman, we have also limited the availability of construction 
funds in this bill to 5 years for hospitals that the VA builds so that 
the veterans don't have to wait endlessly for the completion of a 
hospital. I will never forget when I first got this marvelous 
assignment--I was assigned by Chairman Rogers to handle this important 
bill--that the Denver hospital had $900 million, I believe, set aside, 
squirreled away in a hole. I don't think they had signed a contract or 
turned a spade of dirt, but they had $900 million squirreled away for 
years--that they had not used--in order to build that sorely needed 
hospital in Denver. That is just unacceptable.
  This money that we are privileged to be stewards of was earned by our 
constituents by the sweat of their brow and their hard work, and it is 
our responsibility to ensure that the money is wisely spent, that it is 
spent to ensure that the law is enforced and, above all, that we do not 
spend any more than is absolutely necessary to fulfill the fundamental 
obligations of the United States Government. At the top of that list is 
to ensure that our veterans receive the medical care they have earned, 
that they receive the disability benefits in a timely fashion that they 
have earned, and that our men and women in uniform have all of the 
physical facilities they need to do their jobs with the peace of mind 
and the assurance that the United States Congress and the American 
taxpayers are right there with them, looking over their shoulders, to 
take care of them.
  That is why this is the ``peace of mind'' committee, and it is a 
privilege for me to serve with my good friend from Georgia (Mr. 
Bishop). So that my good friend Mr. Bishop can address the House, I 
reserve the balance of my time.

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[[Page 6564]]



[[Page 6565]]


  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  As you all know, this bill has a strong reputation for finding 
bipartisan common ground as members work together to fund the 
construction of military facilities and strive to improve the quality 
of life and the care afforded to our veterans and our military 
families. Once again, Chairman Culberson has continued this tradition. 
The bill before us provides funding levels that, I think, most Members 
on both sides of the aisle agree are appropriate while avoiding the 
contentious legislative riders that complicate passage.
  I am pleased to join Chairman Culberson as the House takes up the 
fiscal year 2015 appropriations bill for Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. The MilCon-VA bill is critically 
important to the strength and well-being of our military, our veterans, 
and the families who sacrifice so much to defend our country.
  In working with Chairman Culberson and the members of the 
subcommittee, we have crafted a bill that will address the funding 
needs for military construction and family housing for our troops and 
their families as well as other quality-of-life construction projects. 
In addition, it will provide funding for many important VA programs as 
well as for agencies like the Veterans Court of Appeals and the 
American Battle Monuments Commission. The bill before us today touches 
every soldier, sailor, marine, and airman. In addition, this bill will 
also impact military spouses, their children, and every veteran who 
participates in VA programs.
  I want to commend the chairman for his work. Together, we sat through 
hearings and gained valuable insight to the workings of all agencies 
under the subcommittee's jurisdiction. I also want to thank all of our 
subcommittee members and recognize them for their hard work in crafting 
this bill. I believe that the minority was treated fairly during this 
process, and I want to thank Chairman Culberson for ensuring this 
bipartisan result.
  Chairman Culberson has already provided the funding highlights in the 
bill, so I won't repeat them all, but I will say this: In my opinion, 
the FY '15 bill adequately provides for the Department's priorities in 
military construction for each of the services. If the Department 
needed something, it is in the bill, and if it didn't need it, it is 
not in the bill. The Department of Veterans Affairs is funded at $64.7 
billion, which is $1.8 billion above the '14 enacted level. Overall, 
the bill meets the discretionary budget request in all areas of 
administrative expenses, research, and facilities. In addition, the 
bill includes $58.7 billion in advances, which is the same as the 
budget request.
  While I am pleased with the healthy funding increase for the VA, many 
constituents from my district are still extremely frustrated with the 
claims backlog. Frankly, I would have to agree. Now, while the VA has 
made some progress on lessening the backlog, there are still over 
300,000 claims considered as backlogged, so I was pleased that an 
additional $20 million was included in the bill to assist the VA in 
making even more progress on the backlog. In addition, Mr. Chairman, it 
is my hope that coupling the Veterans Claims Intake Program with 
continued rigorous reporting requirements, while fully funding the 
Veterans Benefit Management System, will help the VA reach its goal to 
end this backlog in 2015.
  On the issue of electronic medical records, you all know my 
frustration, and I could spend all of the time yielded to me just on 
this one topic, but I will say this: We have finally gotten the two 
Departments' attention, and I expect to see some real progress on this 
soon. The bill continues the practice of fencing money for this 
endeavor to make sure that when it is completed we have a system that 
works, and works well.
  Mr. Chairman, I believe that we have a strong bipartisan bill that 
supports our military, their families, and our veterans, and I would 
hate to see the hard work of our committee upended by contentious, 
partisan riders intended to serve in scoring political points instead 
of those that serve our Nation. I also believe the most important 
things of this bill are the resources and accountability provided to 
assist the VA in tackling the claims backlog. So I say to my colleagues 
that our committee strongly shares the deep commitment of this body in 
fixing the claims backlog issue. We have looked at numerous approaches 
and firmly believe our bill has found the optimal approach in dealing 
with this pressing concern for our veterans.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, at this time, I yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, the 
distinguished chairman of the full committee.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the 2015 Military 
Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.
  I am very happy to be on the floor with this bill today, Mr. 
Chairman, because it kicks off the 2015 appropriations cycle at a very 
early date. In fact, we know that this is the earliest in the year that 
our committee has presented a bill to the floor, at least since 1974, 
the date of the present Budget Act, and perhaps even more so beyond 
that. We just don't have the records for it. Nevertheless, it is a very 
early date. It also does the important work of providing funding for 
our military, infrastructure and for the care of our veterans.
  This bill provides $71.5 billion in discretionary funding to meet 
those needs. Within that total, this bill provides $6.6 billion for 
military construction projects, family housing, medical units, 
education-training facilities. This will help make sure that the men 
and women of our Armed Forces have the quality of life that they 
deserve during their service and that they have the support that they 
need for our Nation's military missions.
  The bill also provides a total of $64.7 billion in discretionary 
funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. That goes a long way 
toward fulfilling our commitments to our veterans, making sure that, in 
exchange for their service and their sacrifice, we will take care of 
their health and well-being. Of that money, $45 billion goes toward VA 
medical services, including funding for mental health care, suicide 
prevention, rural health initiatives, homeless veteran treatment, and 
job training. The bill also ensures that our benefit programs and 
health systems operate smoothly and efficiently.

                              {time}  1400

  This bill continues our committee's hard work to reduce the 
disability claims backlog, and demands that an interoperable Department 
of Defense-VA, the electronic health record system is up and running as 
soon as possible so that when a veteran goes to a VA hospital and the 
hospital medical people need access to Army records or DOD records when 
the soldier was injured, those records are available and compatible so 
that VA then can use those records to further the treatment of the 
soldier.
  By providing increased funding for claims processing, continuing 
performance benchmarks to reduce the backlog, and placing conditions on 
funding for modernization of the VA health record system, we are 
sending a very strong message, Mr. Chairman, to that agency that we 
want these problems fixed, and we want them fixed now.
  In total, the bill provides $1.8 billion less than last year, hard-
and-fast proof that we can streamline this government and root out 
unnecessary spending without adversely affecting our troops and 
veterans. For example, less funding is provided to Military 
Construction accounts due to current price stability and a favorable 
bid climate, which saves taxpayer dollars but has no effect on quality 
of life or services for our troops.
  Mr. Chairman, this bill is a model of bipartisanship that represents 
the good we can do by way of the appropriations process. That is, in 
most part, thanks to the subcommittee lead by my good chairman, John 
Culberson, and his

[[Page 6566]]

ranking member, Mr. Bishop. They worked on a collaborative basis to 
produce a bill that truly fulfills the needs of our military and our 
veterans.
  I want to take a moment too to thank the staff who all put in a great 
deal of hard work to get this bill before the House this early and at 
all.
  As you know, Mr. Chairman, this is the first of 12 appropriations 
bills that we must bring to the floor before the August recess. With an 
agreed-upon budget and early start, the cooperation of our colleagues 
on both sides of the aisle and ample floor time, I believe we can 
complete our work, our congressional duty, on time, on budget, and 
under regular order. I look forward to working with our colleagues to 
make this goal a reality.
  I couldn't be prouder to kick off our 2015 appropriations bill season 
with this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it fully.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the ranking member of the full 
Appropriations Committee, a very, very, very eloquent and hardworking 
lady, and who is committed to the support of our veterans and their 
families.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank our distinguished 
chairman, Mr. Culberson, and the distinguished subcommittee ranking 
member, Sanford Bishop, who really have done an extraordinary job on 
this bill.
  Since it is the first bill coming to the floor, I share the pride 
expressed by the big chairman, Chairman Rogers. This is regular order, 
this is an outstanding bill, and we can be very proud of the work. So 
thank you again, Chairman Culberson, Ranking Member Bishop, for this 
very, very important bill.
  This is the first of the 12 spending bills that the House will 
consider for fiscal year 2015. As I mentioned, I am so pleased that we 
are beginning the process with a bill, as reported out of committee, 
that includes reasonable spending levels and is devoid of controversial 
riders. I hope this is a sign of what is to follow.
  Despite fiscal constraints, the Military Construction and Veterans 
Affairs bill would meet the needs of servicemen and servicewomen and 
continue to support our veterans. I am particularly pleased with the 
emphasis on the increased need for prosthetics for our female 
servicemembers.
  Congress must continue to track and provide vigorous oversight, as 
you heard from Chairman Rogers and Chairman Culberson and Ranking 
Member Bishop, on the VistA Evolution Electronic Health Record to 
ensure its capability and interoperability with whatever health records 
system the Department of Defense eventually selects. As we have 
discussed many times, this discussion has gone on much too long. It is 
time for closure, and it is time for coordination. I do hope that 
happens sooner, rather than later. The overall increase above the 
fiscal year 2014-enacted level to the IT account should help the VA 
move forward.
  This bill also takes several steps to reduce the disgraceful veterans 
claims backlog. The committee has previously provided the VA with 
additional resources. This bill would provide $173.3 million to the 
Veterans Benefit Management System and an additional $20 million to the 
Veterans Benefit Administration for digital scanning of old paper 
files, the centralized mail initiative, and staff overtime.
  It withholds 75 percent of the VistA Evolution funds until VA 
provides information on the system, particularly regarding planned 
interoperability with the DOD.
  It will continue to require the VA to provide monthly records on 
claims processing and remediation efforts for underperforming regional 
offices.
  The VA has made progress in the last year, and this bill provides the 
resources to end the claims backlog, and that is what we expect of the 
Secretary in 2015.
  This is a good bill. I hope it is preserved as the House considers 
amendments. Mr. Chairman, I urge your support.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, if I could ask how much time do we have 
remaining in this part of the debate?
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas has 17 minutes remaining.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I have the pleasure to yield 3 minutes 
to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), the chairman of 
the Defense Subcommittee.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, as you have so well articulated, the 
Nation owes an almost unrepayable debt to our men and women in uniform, 
past and present. As a result of their selfless service, we are 
absolutely obliged to deliver a full range of benefits that they were 
promised. That includes quality medical care for members of the 
military and our veterans at all times.
  My colleagues, I want to commend the gentleman from Texas, the 
ranking member from Georgia, and their staff for their commitment to 
ensuring that there will be a seamless transition from the Defense 
medical system into the VA health care system through an integrated 
electronic medical record.
  For nearly a decade, your subcommittee and our Defense Subcommittee 
have listened to a parade of administration officials tell us, first of 
all, they recognized the need for interoperability when it comes to 
electronic health records and, secondly, that we are on it. Mr. 
Chairman, they were not on it, and as a result, we have lost years as 
the VA and the Department of Defense struggled to develop either a 
single unified record or different but interoperable systems.
  My colleagues, the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 
mandated the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs were required 
to collaborate to create an electronic health record that would achieve 
interoperability and streamline the transition process from 
servicemember to veteran. Now, 7 years later, there is no interoperable 
record, and the original plan for the two Departments to use the same 
system has now been scrapped. The Department of Defense plans to 
acquire a new record system while the VA continues to upgrade its 
current one. Alternatively, the acquisition program for the Department 
of Defense has an estimated contract award date of the third quarter of 
fiscal year 2015 with initial operating capability by the first quarter 
of fiscal year 2017, nearly a full decade after the initial mandate.
  My colleagues, this program has been plagued by inefficiency, poor 
planning, and apparently even less oversight by responsible members of 
the Department. The failure to make the significant progress on this 
issue is a national disgrace.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. CULBERSON. I yield the gentleman such time as he may consume.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Thank you for yielding the time.
  The failure to make significant progress on this issue is a national 
disgrace. Not only are the Departments squandering precious taxpayer 
dollars, but above all, our troops and veterans are suffering as they 
seek help.
  Mr. Chairman, I look forward to working with you on this situation to 
end this debacle. It is inexcusable. We need interoperable records. We 
need the VA and the Department of Defense to work together successfully 
to serve our veterans.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), who has offered invaluable help 
on the committee in crafting the bill and who has a particular interest 
in the Defense Language School in Monterey and on maintaining our 
commitment to previous BRAC rounds in the State of California that they 
not be forgotten.
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Chair, thank you very much, Ranking Member Bishop and 
Chairman Culberson.
  I rise as the longest serving member on this subcommittee, and I want 
to commend you both, the chairman and the ranking member, for your hard 
work in ensuring that this bill is another significant step in 
fulfilling our promise to our country that has made these commitments 
to our veterans that we will leave none of them behind.
  This committee has a strong history of working in a bipartisan way to

[[Page 6567]]

produce a bill that supports our Active Duty servicemembers, our 
veterans, and their families, and I think this bill is no exception to 
that.
  For example, the VA has taken steps to rectify the deplorable backlog 
of benefit claims as everyone has mentioned so far. We owe it to our 
veterans to exercise our constitutional oversight responsibilities to 
ensure that the VA is actually fixing that backlog.
  I am pleased the bill before us today includes language I requested 
with many of my colleagues that continues additional oversight 
requirements for the Veterans Benefits Administration and requires 
regular updates from the VA to Congress on the status of the backlog. 
Through regular updates from the VA, we will be able to ensure 
accountability that will ultimately end the backlog.
  Additionally, I am pleased to see the bill recognize that the VA must 
be able to employ enough mental health providers. For example, as it 
currently stands, 95 percent of the marriage and family therapists in 
California, licensed in California, are barred from VA employment under 
current VA standards, which require a degree from only one specified 
national accreditation program.
  I authored language in the report of the bill, accompanying the bill, 
to ensure that the VA explore expanding the accreditation requirements 
by looking at those that are recognized by the Department of Education 
so that more marriage and family therapists can get to work helping our 
veterans.
  As a final note, I would like to point out that this bill is $1.8 
billion below last year's enacted level, but it is only $0.4 billion 
less than what the President requested.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I yield the gentleman 10 seconds.
  Mr. FARR. Thank you.
  I am glad to see this bill has been protected from senseless budget 
cuts. I strongly encourage this Congress to honor the balanced approach 
that this bill shows in the bipartisan Budget Control Act that we 
adopted last year.

                              {time}  1415

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, at this time it is my privilege to yield 
1 minute to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Mrs. Roby), a member of our 
subcommittee who does a superb job representing her constituents.
  Mrs. ROBY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  Mr. Chairman, there is no greater duty that we have as a Nation than 
to care for our veterans. I am so proud to stand in support of this 
bill funding critical VA needs like medical care, medical health 
services, suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury treatment, 
homeless services, and job training.
  One way I believe that we can greatly improve VA services is to 
further develop the Patient-Centered Community Care program. Some 
services veterans need aren't always offered at their local VA 
hospital, or, if they are, the waiting list may be really long. In 
these cases, it only makes sense for the VA to contract out services 
through local providers and get the veteran patients the care that they 
need. And offering better care to veterans while saving taxpayer money 
is a win-win situation.
  Our committee report for this bill asks the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to document the successes and efficiencies of Patient-Centered 
Community Care so we can make the case for allowing more veterans to 
take advantage of this innovative program.
  I strongly support this bill.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, at this time I yield 3 minutes 
to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), a strong member of the 
Appropriations Committee and a tireless fighter for our military 
veterans and their families.
  Mr. CUELLAR. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  First of all, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the chairman, my friend 
from Texas, John Culberson, and I certainly want to thank our ranking 
member, Mr. Bishop. These two gentlemen are true models of what 
bipartisanship is here in Congress. They have really done a great job 
to show the American public that when it comes to veterans and the 
military, this is not a Democratic or a Republican issue, but it is an 
issue that we all work together. So I certainly want to thank them.
  I want to thank them for the work that they have done, but in 
particular I want to thank both gentleman and the committee about an 
issue dealing with the backlogs that have existed at the VA for many 
years.
  Veterans of all generations deserve a benefit system that is easy to 
navigate and is responsive to their needs.
  As of April 26, 2014, the VA claims totaled more than 596,000. Of 
those, 319,000 have been pending for more than 125 days. This is 
something that has to be cleared. And this is something that Congress 
is working on.
  While Congress has done some work, more has to be done. We need to 
make sure that in this appropriations bill we not only provide the 
bureaucrats, with all due respect, with the money, but they have to be 
provided the oversight and the performance measures to make sure that, 
if they are given the money, they get to work and eliminate this 
backlog that has been affecting so many veterans in my district and 
across the State and the Nation.
  So I want to thank the members of the Appropriations Committee for 
supporting the VA's Veterans Benefit Management System so old claims 
that are filed on paper can now be converted to digital files to make 
then more accessible and more searchable.
  I also want to thank them for the money for VA employees' overtime so 
we can end the backlog by 2015. We have to get this job done.
  Finally, the last point that I want to make that is extremely 
important is to make sure that we get the VA and the Department of 
Defense to create one electronic health records system.
  Why is it that the Department of Defense has their own records, and 
once a veteran retires, the VA has a different record? We have to get 
them together so they can work together to make sure that we have the 
right paperwork filed and we speed up claims and the process between 
the VA and the Department of Defense, working together.
  So, in conclusion, these two gentlemen and the members have been a 
true model of bipartisanship. I think we need to salute them. If we 
look at the work that Mr. Bishop and Mr. Culberson have done here, this 
is the way we get our job done in Congress in a bipartisan way.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, can I ask how much time we have 
remaining?
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas has 12\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I want to be sure to acknowledge and thank my friend, 
Mr. Cuellar, from Laredo. We have been good friends and served together 
in the Texas House. I am sure he remembers the appropriations committee 
in the Texas House. And we understand the value of the power of the 
purse.
  We are indeed using the power of the purse to achieve the goals that 
Mr. Cuellar has just mentioned, that is, ensuring the claims backlog is 
dealt with and that the Department of Defense and the VA have an 
interoperable medical record.
  There really is no more powerful check and balance that the 
legislative branch has over the executive branch than the power of the 
purse, which originates in the House.
  Article 1, section 9 says that no money may be drawn from the 
Treasury, except by appropriations.
  We are working together arm-in-arm, just as we did in the Texas 
House, in support of our veterans and military.
  In fact, we also have found great common ground when it comes to law 
enforcement on the border, something that his folks in Laredo have a 
keen interest in: safe streets, good schools, a strong economy. And 
that all begins with law enforcement.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Laredo because it has been a 
pleasure working with him on so many of these good issues.
  We could have not gotten to this spot, Mr. Chairman, without the help

[[Page 6568]]

of the committee staff. We have got an extraordinary group of people 
who have made this possible. The Appropriations Committee is blessed to 
have had professionals here who have helped us for years.
  I want to particularly thank Donna Shabazz, Sue Quantius, and Sarah 
Young, and make sure that we also recognize the extraordinary 
contributions by Matt Washington and Tracey Russell.
  This has really been a team effort. It is an extraordinary complex 
piece of legislation to ensure that not only the money that our 
taxpayers have worked so hard to earn is wisely spent, but that the 
agencies that are the beneficiaries of these hard-earned tax dollars 
understand that with the receipt of this money comes the obligation to 
ensure that it is spent wisely. We are going to continue with 
aggressive oversight.
  When it comes to oversight, Mr. Chairman, I also want to mention that 
we are going to have an amendment later today by the Congresswoman from 
Phoenix to deal with this really deeply concerning situation that we 
have seen arise in the Phoenix VA where you have got a doctor claiming 
that folks have lost their lives. They were unable to get access to the 
medical care they have earned from their medical service at the Phoenix 
hospital.
  That is another way to enforce the law. With additional funding, we 
are going to use the inspector general's office to investigate this and 
find out what is actually going on. In that case, if there has been 
deliberate or intentional refusal to admit veterans to the VA hospital 
in Phoenix, there are going to be criminal charges.
  Certainly, our heart goes out to those families in Phoenix. We are 
all committed to make sure that any veteran, any member of the military 
who has served this country, has immediate access to the best medical 
care in the world.
  And that is why this is such a bipartisan bill and one that we offer 
to the House today, arm-in-arm. Both the gentleman from Georgia and the 
people of Texas that I represent were pleased to present this to the 
House and encourage the Members to support it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member of 
our Legislative Branch Subcommittee on Appropriations and a strong 
voice for the needs of our Nation's veterans, with a unique interest in 
the needs of our female servicemembers and veterans.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I appreciate the gentleman yielding.
  First, let me commend and pile on to the commendations that are so 
deserving by our colleagues and my good friends, Chairman Culberson and 
Ranking Member Bishop, on crafting a strong and bipartisan bill. 
Congress really can work together when we put our heads and our hearts 
together.
  Let me especially recognize their leadership in including language in 
the bill which will help many of our Nation's veterans transition into 
careers in civilian health care.
  The United States military has the best-trained medics and corpsmen 
in the world. In fact, the data substantiates that Special Forces 
medics greatly increase the chances of survival for those who suffer 
injuries on the battlefield.
  Despite this, former military medics have one of the highest 
unemployment rates among veterans because their extensive medical 
training in the military doesn't perfectly match qualifications in the 
civilian world.
  For example, Army Specialist Nick Colgin, whom President Obama 
applauded as an American hero for saving the life of a French soldier 
shot in Afghanistan, was somehow considered unqualified to be an 
emergency medical technician in Wyoming.
  This Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill that we are 
considering can help fix this baffling disconnect. It includes language 
establishing a pilot program for veteran medics that will expand 
opportunities for physician assistant training at Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities. This program will leverage the expertise of 
military medics to strengthen the health care profession and reduce 
veteran unemployment.
  A perfect example of the way veteran medics can, when given the 
chance, successfully enter into a civilian health care profession is 
the story of Staff Sergeant Victor Arvizu, who valiantly served for 20 
years as a combat medic in the Middle East and South Pacific.
  From taking blood samples to pulling out shards of glass from the 
chests of soldiers to suturing wounds and inserting chest tubes, 
Sergeant Arvizu developed a special skill set that translated into a 
successful career when he returned home.
  Sergeant Arvizu was able to use this expertise to gain employment as 
a health tech at a Veterans Affairs clinic in my south Florida 
district. But there are too many veterans in my district and nationwide 
who are still struggling to translate their expertise and skills into 
employment in the civilian workforce.
  We need initiatives that will create more stories like Sergeant 
Arvizu's.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I yield the gentlelady an additional 30 
seconds.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Thank you.
  Our veterans make the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and now we 
need to do our part by providing them with opportunities to use their 
skill sets. I am proud that this bill includes language that will help 
to do just that.
  I urge support of the bill.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, at this time I yield 3 minutes 
to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, let me first thank our ranking 
member for his tireless leadership on behalf of our veterans and as our 
ranking member on the MilCon Subcommittee.
  I also want to thank our chairman for working with us once again to 
include language in this bill that would require the VA to provide 
detailed reporting on the unacceptable claims backlog and its efforts 
to eliminate it.
  Congresswoman Jackie Speier and myself, for example, have been 
working with our veterans in the Bay area. Some of the stories and some 
of the cases that we have uncovered, discovered, and worked on are 
heartbreaking. I know Members throughout the country have many veterans 
whose benefits should have been provided and executed many, many years 
ago.
  In order to reduce the veterans' benefit claims backlog, this bill 
fully funds the President's budget request of $173 million for the 
Veterans Benefits Management System and provides an additional $20 
million to the Veterans Benefits Administration for records and 
staffing needs.
  As the daughter of a veteran and the Representative of thousands of 
veterans in my district, I am deeply troubled to hear that young men 
and women who serve our country must wait an average of 255 days while 
the VA processes their claims. This wait is inexcusable and 
unacceptable. We have heard some of the tragic, tragic stories that 
have arisen out of this.
  Finally, Mr. Chairman, let me just say I am very pleased that the 
House is moving quickly and in regular order to consider the Military 
Construction and VA Appropriations bill. It is my hope that this will 
continue as we move forward in the appropriations process with all of 
our subcommittees.
  As a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations 
Subcommittee, it is my hope that our subcommittee, which is the largest 
share of funding outside of the Pentagon, will receive a proportionate 
and adequate increase in our total allocation.
  Our subcommittee supports programs that impact nearly every 
household, every community, and every congressional district, and so we 
owe it to our constituents to have a full, open, and robust debate as 
the process moves forward.

[[Page 6569]]

  Thank you to our chair and ranking member on behalf of all of the 
veterans in my district. I will support this bill. It is a step forward 
in our appropriations process.
  Mr. CULBERSON. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, this is a good bill. It is a bipartisan bill, and it is 
a bill that, I think, meets the needs of our services for their 
military construction, as well as for our veterans and our military 
families.
  As far as our military construction, if our services needed it, it is 
in the bill. If they didn't need it, it is not in the bill.
  I am so happy that we have taken very strong steps to address the 
claims backlog at the Veterans Administration. We have taken strong 
steps to ensure that we will soon have coordinated, interoperable 
electronic health records between the Veterans Affairs Department and 
the Department of Defense; and I am happy that in this bill, together, 
we will assure accountability for our Nation's veterans.
  Mr. Chairman, when our men and women took the oath to serve our 
country as part of our Nation's military, they took an oath to serve 
and defend; and when they completed that service, our Nation has, in 
fact, figuratively, written a check assuring that they will have the 
benefits that they need when they come back following their service.
  It is our duty as a Nation, our duty as a Congress, and certainly our 
duty as a part of this committee, to make sure that that check that we 
figuratively wrote to those veterans never, ever comes back marked 
``insufficient funds'' and to make sure that that check--the benefits 
of that check don't come back redeemed in a delayed fashion.
  So we have done what is necessary to make sure that they get their 
benefits, that they get them in a timely manner, that the claims 
backlog is eliminated, and that we facilitate whatever it takes to make 
sure that they are rewarded for their service to our country because 
the price of freedom, it is not free.
  Somebody had to pay that price, and the people who paid the price are 
the men and women who served our Nation in uniform and are now veterans 
and their families who also sacrificed as the servicemembers went to 
war.
  I urge the adoption of this bill and ask my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I join Mr. Bishop in urging the House to 
approve this legislation, and I agree with him wholeheartedly about 
making sure that any check--any check that our veterans have earned 
doesn't ever come back with insufficient funds.
  It is one of the fundamental obligations of the Federal Government to 
ensure that our veterans are taken care of, they are given everything 
they need while they serve and they are in uniform, but then also that 
they are given access to the best medical care the country can provide 
to them once they enter into the private sector.
  We have, in this legislation, given everything that the veterans have 
asked us for. We have made sure that the VA is fully funded, but we are 
using the power of the purse to ensure that the law is obeyed. We are 
making sure that our constituents' hard-earned tax dollars are spent 
wisely and frugally and carefully and that they actually reach the 
veterans who need them the most.
  We are in an extraordinary era, Mr. Chairman. Survival rates are 
higher than they have ever been for our men and women in uniform. If 
they are lucky enough to survive their initial injury and make it to an 
aid station, the survival rate is in excess of 98, 99 percent.
  It is absolutely extraordinary, the blessings of modern medicine. The 
work that the VA has been doing in prosthetics and helping these young 
men and women recover from their injuries is extraordinary.
  This is our first obligation as a government, is to ensure that the 
men and women who make it possible for us to be here in a free society 
and debate legislation like this, that they are given everything that 
they have earned by their service to the country.
  An important part of this is to be sure that we are also talking to 
our constituents about the budget problems that lie ahead of us and the 
importance of making sure that the social safety net, the social safety 
net that is out there--Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid--those 
programs remain solvent.
  They are, right now, headed into bankruptcy, and we have got to make 
sure that we deal with those bigger problems for the longer term, so 
that we can continue to fully fund the needs of our veterans and our 
men and women in uniform.
  It truly has been a privilege for me to work on this subcommittee 
with my friend from Georgia (Mr. Bishop). The State of Georgia and the 
State of Texas--I feel a special kinship with the people of Georgia 
because they have a commitment to the military that is commensurate to 
that of the people of Texas.
  We both admire our men and women in uniform immensely, and this is a 
piece of legislation that our folks back home, Mr. Chairman, may not 
see much disagreement, but that is because we are, all of us, so 
strongly in support of making sure that our men and women in uniform 
can focus on their mission and protect this Nation with complete peace 
of mind.
  I urge all the Members of the House to support this legislation which 
is presented to them by the unanimous vote of the subcommittee and the 
full committee.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Chair, to the veterans who 
courageously served our country, we owe the best our nation can offer.
  I appreciate the opportunity to stand here with my colleagues, 
working in a bipartisan manner to pass H.R. 4486, the Military 
Construction and Veteran Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act, 2015.
  Thank you to Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop from the 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans 
Affairs for your hard work in crafting this legislation.
  This bill, in part, provides funding for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and gives much needed support and resources to help the VA end 
the claims backlog.
  We owe our veterans every promise we've made, and unfortunately, 
we've not been living up to these promises.
  One of the pledges we make to our veterans is that, should they be 
injured during their service, we'll provide them with disability 
compensation to assist them as they transition home.
  While the VA is making strides to reduce the claims backlog, more 
needs to be done.
  Unfortunately, there remains a large claims backlog at many VA 
Regional Offices across the United States.
  At the Oakland Regional Office, which serves my constituents in the 
15th Congressional District of California, over 58 percent of claims 
have been pending for over 125 days.
  These numbers are among the worst in the nation, with claims 
averaging over one full year to complete.
  As a former prosecutor I am well acquainted with phrase ``justice 
delayed is justice denied.''
  In the case of the veterans' claims, delayed care is denied care.
  Unfortunately, since the retirement of Director Douglas Bragg in 
January, the Oakland Regional Office director position has been vacant.
  I led a bipartisan letter signed by 19 California Members of Congress 
to the VA urging it to swiftly reduce the backlog by hiring a new, 
supremely qualified director of the Oakland VA.
  Properly serving our veterans means listening to their concerns and 
taking action.
  I've hosted several veteran town halls, where veterans across the 
East Bay shared their stories and ongoing struggles regarding pending 
claims at the VA.
  My office is working hard to help every veteran in our district that 
needs assistance, but the problem goes beyond just one district, 
region, or state.
  That's why we're here today. We're working to ensure that we reach 
every veteran that needs assistance and hold the VA accountable for its 
slow claims process.

[[Page 6570]]

  Our veterans desperately need a VA that will provide both accurate 
and timely responses. It's what our veterans deserve, and I'll continue 
to push the VA to provide our veterans with the service and benefits 
they've earned.
  Not only is there a backlog in first-time claims, now the backlog for 
appeals is becoming a serious problem.
  I appreciate that language I supported along with other Members of 
the California delegation was included in the committee report on the 
bill to address this appeals backlog. It expresses our deep concern 
over this issue and encourages the Veterans Benefits Administration to 
take swift action to lower the wait time for appeals claims.
  Thanks again to the Chairman and Ranking Member for accepting this 
language.
  I'll continue working closely with my colleagues to ensure that the 
few that proudly served our country receive the benefits and care they 
earned.
  Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.
  Where I come from, we believe that for those who we send into harm's 
way to protect and serve us in defense of our freedoms, we have a 
profound obligation to protect and serve them upon their return.
  Last year's Military Construction and Veterans Administration bill 
did not do enough to fulfill this promise. Therefore I'm glad that this 
bill is an improvement.
  This year's bill: increases funding for vital veterans programs here 
at home by $1.5 billion; significantly decreases unnecessary new 
military construction projects in places all around the world--new 
projects that the Pentagon itself says are not wanted and not needed; 
this bill comes closer to fully funding veterans mental health 
programs; as well as vital health care programs for the more than 3 
million veterans living in rural communities; increases funding for 
technology to reduce the notorious backlog at the VA.
  Mr. Chair, I rise specifically today to bring to light my grave 
concerns with the Regional Command-Southwest Command and Control 
facility in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.
  This facility offers 64,000 square feet of space for more than 1,000 
military personnel, including accommodations for a three-star general.
  Standing two stories tall, this windowless facility is larger than a 
football field, and was completed in 2013 at a cost of approximately 
$34 million.
  According to Special Inspector General to Afghanistan John Sopko, 
this building is the ``Taj Mahal'' of command centers.
  The unconscionable fact about this building, however--is that the 
military has no plans to use it.
  Area commanders insisted three years ago that they did not need this 
building. They were in the middle of troop withdrawal, and they saw no 
reason to move in.
  In Mr. Sopko's words, ``this is an example of what is wrong with 
military construction in general--once a project is started, it is very 
difficult to stop.''
  Mr. Chair, we simply cannot allow any projects like this--projects 
that the Pentagon itself says are unnecessary--to receive funding from 
this Congress. It's shameful, it's wasteful, and it needs to stop.
  American veterans of foreign wars like Afghanistan are sleeping under 
bridges--going without the life-saving health care and mental health 
services they deserve and so desperately need--and waiting for 
sometimes years for the VA to finally process their benefits claims.
  Yet, during last year's debate on this bill, Republicans in the House 
rejected my amendment that would have doubled funding for veterans 
hospitals--and would have provided for extra personnel to address this 
atrocious backlog.
  It is simply unconscionable that we allow this to go on while 
literally throwing billions of dollars away on buildings standing empty 
overseas.
  Where is the outcry in this House? Where is the shock--where is the 
shame?
  It is time we end these unsustainable wars of choice. It is time we 
cut back on our military footprint in unnecessary outposts around the 
world. It is time we prioritize those brave men and women whom we send 
into harm's way to protect us.
  When it comes to these brave men and women, we must do everything in 
our power--we must leave no stone unturned to assure our nation's 
veterans have the very best medical care--counseling--housing--job 
training--and all the educational opportunities a grateful nation can 
provide.
  Only the very best is good enough. That is how we keep our promise to 
our nation's veterans.
  In closing, Mr. Chair, once again I commend those of us in the House 
who have fought for increases to veterans programs here at home, and 
for those of us in the House who are dedicated to ending these costly 
and terrible wars abroad.
  And I strongly urge you and all my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives to continue to give veterans the benefits they so 
rightfully deserve now and in the future.
  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Chair, I rise today to thank Chairman Culberson and 
Ranking Member Bishop for including legislative language I requested in 
this year's Military Construction, Veteran Affairs, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015. It appears in section 232, as 
follows:

       Sec. 232. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to award a contract to any contractor if the past 
     performance of the contractor resulted in the completion of a 
     construction project at a facility of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs more than 24 months after the original 
     agreed-upon completion date for the project.

  This language also exists as a stand-alone bill I have introduced, 
H.R. 4394: the `Serve Our Heroes Now Act'. What it means is this--if 
someone is responsible for a delay of two years, or more, of completion 
of a VA facility, they cannot be awarded future contracts for military 
or VA construction.
  In my own district, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (``VA'') 
is building a new VA Medical Center (``VAMC'') that will serve an area 
of more than 90,000 veteran patients in East Central Florida. This VAMC 
will be one of seven members of the VISN 8 Healthcare System, covering 
parts of Florida, Georgia, and all of Puerto Rico.
  The original construction contract for the Orlando VAMC called for a 
final completion date of October 2, 2012. Eighteen months later, my 
constituents, who bravely fought for their country, are still waiting. 
This is a disgrace, and it must be remedied.
  Section 232 is clear. If the current contractor for the Orlando VAMC 
is determined to be at fault for construction delays, it will be 
ineligible for future contracts awarded from funds appropriated by this 
bill. That hurts--but it doesn't compare to the pain my constituents 
suffer while waiting for the VA Medical Center that has been promised 
to them.
  In closing, Mr. Chair, I want every Member here, and anyone else 
watching, to know that I will request this language in every Military 
Construction, Veteran Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 
that comes to this floor, as long as I serve in this body. Those 
responsible will be held accountable. I pray other veterans do not have 
to wait as long as my constituents have, and I pray that the new 
Orlando VAMC is fully operational by October of this year.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, as we consider H.R. 
4486, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, it is crucial that we protect American 
workers from any efforts to weaken or repeal the provisions under 
Davis-Bacon or the use of project labor agreements (PLAs) in federally 
funded or assisted construction projects.
  The Davis-Bacon Act is used to set fair wage rates and benefits that 
contractors or subcontractors must use to compensate their laborers 
during the construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings. 
Project labor agreements are collective bargaining agreements used to 
establish the terms and conditions of employment for specific 
construction projects. Both are important tools in ensuring that 
American workers receive fair pay and treatment for federal contract 
work, and that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively during 
public construction projects.
  H.R. 4486 must not be used as the vehicle to strip American workers 
of their rights to fair pay and treatment for federal contract work. 
The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act 
should remain about funding critical infrastructure projects in support 
of our national defense, and to bring reliable benefits and medical 
care to our men and women in uniform.
  Mr. Chair, any efforts to weaken the Davis-Bacon Act will only serve 
to harm American taxpayers and workers. The provisions under Davis-
Bacon and specific PLAs are used to ensure that federal dollars are 
used responsibly and effectively when building up our nation's 
infrastructure. Davis-Bacon and PLAs bring needed oversight to federal 
contract work, while preserving fair compensation for workers. I urge 
my colleagues to oppose any amendments to H.R. 4486 that would weaken 
these protections.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak on H.R. 4486, MILCON-VA 
Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015.
  The bill provides a total of $165 billion in FY 2015 to fund military 
construction projects and

[[Page 6571]]

programs of the Veterans Affairs Department--$7 billion (4 percent) 
more than current funding.
  This total includes $93.5 billion in mandatory spending (all for VA 
benefits) and $71.5 billion in discretionary funding.
  Sequestration has caused significant problems for the VA in meeting 
the needs of our nation's veterans.
  Unfortunately, H.R. 4486, does not provide the President's budget 
request for Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) medical care and 
includes unnecessary restrictions that could have negative consequences 
for benefits to our veterans.
  I am disappointed with the funding level for VA Medical Care, which 
is $368 million below the President's request.
  This funding level could delay the timely delivery of health care 
services to veterans and impede the Administration's efforts to end 
veterans' homelessness in 2015.
  I hold our men and women of the armed services in the highest regard. 
I have fought for them to receive pay raises, affordable and safe 
housing, family support services, and the best possible medical care.
  The Dr. Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center is in my District, and I am 
proud to say that Harris County is home to 187,717 veterans and Texas 
is called home by more than 1,618,413 veterans.
  Our veterans never fail to respond to the call to serve their 
country. That is why we cannot and must not fail to serve them. And 
that begins by eliminating the back log. Veterans should not have to 
wait months to receive the care they need.
  We must continue to fund programs to end veteran homelessness and 
increase benefits for veterans to assure they have access to 
healthcare, education and good paying jobs.
  My support of veterans has been consistent and strong over the time I 
have served in the House of Representatives. I know firsthand how 
painful it is for Veterans to seek assistance for medical care--
especially PTSD or Traumatic Brain injuries.
  The VA has made important progress on the disability claims backlog 
which was at 900,000 last year, but the agency despite sequestration 
has made progress in reducing.
  I will not be satisfied until the VA disability claims backlog has 
been eliminated.
  VA funding should not be reduced from the amount requested by the 
Administration especially in light of the continuing backlog in 
disability claims.
  Further, the bill provides $50 million below the request for 
Information Technology operations and maintenance programs, which may 
result in delayed technology infrastructure improvements that ensure 
continuity of operations for services that support all of VA's services 
and benefit delivery.
  I appreciate the funding level provided for electronic health record 
interoperability and VistA Evolution, but I object to restriction on 
obligations for VistA modernization efforts.
  Interoperability between the DOD and VA recordkeeping systems could 
significantly reduce the number of Veteran disability claims that are 
waiting processing.
  Interoperability can also lead to significant cost savings by 
reducing inefficiencies that are created when the capacity for 
computing systems to automate benefits management and track claim 
submissions are not available.
  Furthermore, interoperability among systems that are key to our men 
and women in uniform transitioning to civilian life makes sense for 
them and their families.
  The Administration is committed to achieving seamless data 
integration and interoperability between the Department of Defense, VA, 
and also with private healthcare providers.
  Meeting the challenge of interoperability must be addressed to make 
sure that Veterans receive the necessary and appropriate care in a 
timely manner.
  The level of discretionary funding for FY 2015, which includes $55.6 
billion in advance funding from prior-year appropriations, is $1.8 
billion (2 percent) less than current comparable funding and $398 
million less than requested.
  I do thank the Appropriations Committee for its decision to provide 
$58.7 billion in advance FY 2016 funding for VA medical programs.
  The measure boosts discretionary spending for the VA, providing $64.7 
billion for FY 2015, $1.5 billion (2 percent) more than the comparable 
current level, while cutting military construction by $3.3 billion (33 
percent) to $6.6 billion, equal to the administration's request.
  The administration, given current budget caps on defense and 
nondefense spending, elected to propose reductions in military 
construction in order to preserve funding for defense readiness 
accounts in the Defense appropriations bill.
  With defense and non-defense spending caps in place for FY 2015, 
House and Senate appropriators expect to avoid the gridlock on spending 
bills that occurred last year.
  Mr. Chair, it is my hope that my colleagues in the majority will 
place the best interest of the American people first during the 
deliberations on the budget to ensure that Federal government nor the 
American people have to endure another shutdown.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my support for 
H.R. 4486, the FY15 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act. I commend Chairmen Rogers and 
Culberson and Ranking Members Lowey and Bishop for crafting a 
bipartisan bill that not only provides for current and former service 
members and their families but also substantially addresses the 
veterans' claims backlog.
  The MilCon-VA bill makes critical investments in our military 
infrastructure, housing, and services to our nation's veterans, active 
military members and their families. It provides $71.5 billion in 
discretionary funding for these programs and activities, including 
$64.7 billion for the Department of Veteran Affairs. It also provides 
$58.7 billion in advance funding for the VA in FY16.
  This legislation also builds on efforts made in last year's MilCon-VA 
bill to end the claims backlog that continues to plague our VA regional 
offices, including the VA's Baltimore Regional Office. It fully funds 
the budget request of $173.3 million for the Veterans Benefits 
Management System (VBMS) and provides an additional $20 million to the 
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) for digitizing records and 
staffing needs. The legislation also requires each VA regional office 
to submit a monthly report on its claims processing performance and 
imposes even stricter requirements on the poorest performing offices 
around the country. I am hopeful that these measures will be an 
important step in ensuring that backlogged claims are expedited as 
quickly as possible.
  I do have reservations about a number of provisions contained in the 
bill, however. I strongly oppose section 411, which prohibits the 
construction, renovation, or expansion of any facility in the U.S. to 
house individuals that are currently being detained at Guantanamo Bay. 
And as the White House outlined in its Statement of Administration 
Policy, it is disappointing that this bill does not provide full 
funding for VA Medical Care, potentially delaying the delivery of 
important health care services to our veterans.
  Despite my concerns, the MilCon-VA bill reflects our commitment and 
the promises we have made to our veterans, our service members, and 
their families. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
important piece of legislation.
  The CHAIR. All time for general debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment 
under the 5-minute rule.
  During consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chair may accord 
priority in recognition to a Member offering an amendment who has 
caused it to be printed in the designated place in the Congressional 
Record. Those amendments will be considered read.
  The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4486

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the 
     Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for military 
     construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and 
     for other purposes, namely:

                                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, $526,427,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2019: Provided, That of this amount, not to 
     exceed $51,127,000 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.

              Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps

       For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment 
     of temporary or permanent

[[Page 6572]]

     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, 
     $998,772,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: 
     Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed $33,366,000 
     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.

                    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, $719,551,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That of this 
     amount, not to exceed $10,738,000 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 none of the funds provided 
     under this heading for military construction in Europe as 
     identified in the table entitled ``Military Construction'' in 
     the accompanying report may be obligated or expended until 
     the Department of Defense completes a European Consolidation 
     Study.


               Amendment Offered by Ms. Castor of Florida

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 3, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $9,800,000)''.
       Page 11, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $9,800,000)''.

  The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Chairman 
Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop for all of their hard work and the 
committee, all of your work on behalf of America's servicemembers and 
veterans to ensure that they have the military facilities that they 
deserve.
  I am very heartened to see the Congress, on both sides of the aisle, 
working together to ensure that our military families and 
servicemembers and our veterans have every resource they need to be 
successful.
  My amendment proposes to transfer $9.8 million to the Air Force 
construction account from the BRAC account to really highlight an area 
in military construction and our facilities that needs a little bit of 
extra attention because I think we can all agree that it is important 
to ensure that, after our servicemembers serve in hazardous areas 
across the globe, when they return to the United States and our 
military installations, that those installations are clean and safe and 
secure as well.
  Mr. Chairman, I have the privilege of representing MacDill Air Force 
Base in Tampa, Florida. MacDill is led by the 6th Air Mobility Wing, 
but has a host of very important tenants on the base, including United 
States Central Command, United States Special Operations Command, the 
927th Air Refueling Wing, and the Joint Communication Support Element. 
In fact, at MacDill, we have 39 mission support partners, so it is a 
very busy base.
  I wanted to bring to everyone's attention a deficiency in our mission 
support facility. Think about this big active base with all of these 
tenants, 13,000 military and civilian personnel at MacDill. Add on to 
that 170,000 military retirees in the area.
  They all come to the mission support facility to get credentialed and 
to take care of the very most basic credentialing and security 
processes at the base.
  Our mission support facility is far from the main gate. It is way too 
small, but most seriously, it contains black mold. It is on the first 
floor along the walls.
  Tampa, of course, is a very damp place, a very humid place, and if 
you don't take care and maintain these facilities, it causes very 
expensive problems down the road. They are doing the best they can, but 
it is very difficult to keep up.
  I raise this issue because this has occurred at other military 
installations before, with the black mold. There was Hampton Roads in 
Virginia, in military housing and, most notoriously, the Walter Reed 
building 18, where we had wounded soldiers.
  Now, thankfully, through the efforts of the Congress, many of these 
have been dealt with, but I think it is very important that the Air 
Force maintain a critical eye on these establishments, to make sure 
that they are up to standard for our military families.
  So I wanted to raise awareness of this matter to the Air Force, to 
the committee members, and I do hope that you all will work with me to 
address this critical issue at MacDill Air Force Base and other 
substandard military facilities across America.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, at this time, I would just like 
to commend the gentlelady for raising a very, very important issue to 
the health, safety, and welfare of airmen and those who go to MacDill; 
and I want to assure the gentlelady that the chairman and I will work 
very closely to make sure that that issue is addressed.
  It is our hope that the gentlelady will withdraw her amendment and 
that we can work on it together, but I assure the gentlelady that we 
will work together to make sure that that is a safe environment, a 
healthy environment, so that no one will be exposed to the consequences 
of black mold.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that my 
amendment be withdrawn, and I thank the committee for their attention.
  The CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from 
Florida?
  There was no objection.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                  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, $2,021,690,000, 
     to remain available until September 30, 2019: 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 appropriated, not to exceed $122,240,000 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 none of the funds provided under this heading for 
     military construction in Europe as identified in the table 
     entitled ``Military Construction'' in the accompanying report 
     may be obligated or expended until the Department of Defense 
     completes a European Consolidation Study: Provided further, 
     That of the amount appropriated, notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, $37,918,000 shall be available for payments 
     to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for the planning, 
     design, and construction of a new North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization headquarters.


                 Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Turner

  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 4, line 19, insert after the dollar amount the 
     following: ``(reduced by $20,000,000)(increased by 
     $20,000,000)''.
       Page 5, line 3, insert after the dollar amount the 
     following: ``(increased by $20,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Ohio is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Culberson and

[[Page 6573]]

Ranking Member Bishop for their hard work and dedication to ensure that 
we have a great bill for our vets and men and women in uniform, but 
also for their tenacity.
  I want to thank Chairman Culberson for his efforts and working with 
me on this amendment and also Ranking Member Bishop.
  Today, I rise in support of an amendment to provide funding for the 
planning, design, and construction of an additional missile defense 
site capable of protecting the homeland from a long-range ballistic 
missile attack.
  To date, two Presidents, as well as three Secretaries of Defense have 
recognized the advantage of an additional missile defense site in order 
to provide additional protection against a long-range ballistic missile 
threat from regions like the Middle East.
  As you may be aware, we currently possess only two sites, both 
located on the west coast, limiting our ability to target and intercept 
incoming ICBMs.
  Since 2007, the United States Northern Command, the combatant command 
in charge of defending the homeland, has, on numerous occasions, 
recommended the construction of an east coast site for this purpose.
  Just last year, in testimony before the House Armed Services 
Committee--and, again, in testimony this year--General Jacoby, the U.S. 
Northern commander stated, ``The third site, if you built it, would 
give us better weapons access, it would give us increased inventory and 
increased battle space with regards to a threat coming from the 
direction of the Middle East.''
  As China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea push for more advance launch 
vehicles, the construction of an east coast site will dramatically 
improve the ability of our military to intercept incoming threats by 
increasing the opportunity to engage and defeat those threats.
  With the 2009 cancellation of the missile defense site in Poland, 
coupled with an increased threat environment, it is imperative that we 
continue to act to protect the homeland from the long-range ballistic 
missile threat.
  Thank you for your consideration to this amendment. I want to, again, 
thank Chairman Culberson for his leadership in protecting our men and 
women in uniform, our national security, and our veterans.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I want to rise in strong support of this 
amendment, and I thank my colleague from Georgia for working with us 
and making sure that we get this done.
  We are long overdue for an antiballistic missile site in the 
continental United States, here on the east coast in particular.
  My good friend from Ohio (Mr. Turner) is absolutely right. We face an 
increased threat environment. That is putting it mildly.
  The North Koreans, who are still at war with us--we are only under an 
armistice in North Korea. The North Koreans have demonstrated that they 
actually have a nuclear weapon in hand.
  Visual satellite observers--I am an amateur astronomer, and as a 
member of a group of amateur observers of artificial satellites, one of 
the members of our network actually observed and tracked the North 
Korean intercontinental ballistic missile overflying the United States 
December 12 of 2012.

                              {time}  1445

  That is the first time the North Koreans had demonstrated the ability 
to actually fly an intercontinental ballistic missile payload over the 
United States. That missile flew over Pensacola, Florida, Mr. Chairman. 
It came up from the south and flew over the southeastern United States 
and exited the United States over Michigan. So the North Koreans have 
already demonstrated they have got the ability to deliver a nuclear 
weapon to the United States. So it is imperative that we move 
immediately to design and build an antiballistic missile site on the 
east coast of the United States.
  I want to compliment my good friend from Ohio for bringing us this 
amendment, and it is my privilege to support it. I urge the adoption of 
the amendment and urge the Department of Defense to build this 
antiballistic missile site as fast as humanly possible.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Georgia is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I join the chairman in accepting 
this amendment. I commend the gentleman for offering it, and I think 
that our national defense will certainly be enhanced by the adoption of 
this amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Turner).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

               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, 
     $126,920,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: 
     Provided, That of the amount appropriated, not to exceed 
     $17,600,000 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, 
     $94,663,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: 
     Provided, That of the amount appropriated, not to exceed 
     $7,700,000 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, $103,946,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That of the 
     amount appropriated, not to exceed $8,337,000 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 therefor.

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I would ask if the chair of the Military 
Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Subcommittee would rise and engage in a colloquy.
  Mr. CULBERSON. It would be my privilege.
  Mr. MICA. Thank you, sir.
  First of all, I would like to commend you, Chairman Culberson and 
Ranking Member Bishop and the Appropriations Committee staff, for their 
efforts in bringing this important measure for our veterans and our 
military to the floor.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight a vital need 
of our central Florida veterans population. This year, as we approach 
the completion of construction of the new veterans hospital and medical 
complex at Lake Nona in Orlando, I would like to request your 
assistance in helping to keep the existing and valuable medical 
facilities and clinic at Baldwin Park in service to our veterans. This 
medical resource is an important Federal asset that must not sit idle 
even before the new medical center opens. It is critical

[[Page 6574]]

that the VA make a positive determination on the future use of this 
property and medical treatment center.
  With Florida's growing veteran population that is already the second 
largest in the Nation, it is important that we plan now for the future 
medical care of our veterans. Additionally, with those service men and 
women now returning from overseas conflicts, we must prepare for the 
future demand for medical services.
  Two years ago, I wrote a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
to plan for this day in anticipation of keeping this medical facility 
open and using it for the benefit of our veterans. Most recently, a 
joint letter from the central Florida congressional delegation, both 
Democrats and Republicans, has been sent to the Secretary asking for 
his consideration of this request. I am now hoping, Mr. Chairman, that 
you will join us in our effort to ensure that the VA takes steps to 
preserve and utilize this much-needed medical center that we have 
there. The recently opened Lake Nona veterans 120-bed nursing facility 
and 60-bed domiciliary care unit are already at capacity, confirming 
the need to maintain the Baldwin Park complex.
  Mr. Chairman, finally I would just ask for your support of these 
current efforts to ensure that the existing VA medical facilities in 
Baldwin Park remain open and continue to provide world-class treatment 
for our veteran population.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. MICA. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CULBERSON. I want to assure my good friend from Florida, Chairman 
Mica, that I look forward to working with you to ensure that the VA 
does complete its independent study of this facility, and I hope that 
report is going to come back and show the continued need for the 
Baldwin Park facility.
  I will work closely with you, sir, to make certain that the Veterans 
Administration does everything in its power to support the results of 
the independent study and work to keep that facility open.
  Mr. MICA. Well, I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your past work. And I 
thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) and the staff for working 
with us. We look forward to ensuring that the VA medical complex at 
Baldwin Park remains open and continues to be used to provide medical 
services for our veterans.
  Finally, Mr. Chair, I would like to insert into the Record two 
letters to Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki, one from myself and 
another from the central Florida congressional delegation.

                                   Congresss of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                  Washington, DC, August 13, 2012.
     Hon.  Eric Shinseki,
     Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Secretary Shinseki: As we complete the Lake Nona 
     Veterans' Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), I would like to 
     request that the Baldwin Park Clinic and building it occupies 
     continue to be utilized for primary, inpatient and 
     domiciliary care for our returning veterans and those other 
     veterans who require this type of care.
       Under this plan, the Baldwin Park clinic would continue to 
     provide essential medical and clinical services for the new 
     VAMC including clinical and primary care assistance, lab 
     work, and pharmacy and outpatient services, including mental 
     health care. Because Florida's veteran population continues 
     to expand, it is important to continue these veteran medical 
     services at this facility for those veterans on the north 
     side of the community so that they can continue to have 
     access to these essential services. I respectfully ask that 
     you give this proposal your full consideration.
       The second proposal I am writing to you about is my strong 
     support for maintaining a domiciliary care unit in the 
     remaining portion of the hospital, either by the VA or 
     contract services that would provide inpatient and 
     domiciliary care for both our returning veterans and those 
     others who are in need of this type of care. According to an 
     August, 1995 GAO report, ``The former Naval Hospital's 153 
     beds could be used to meet the VA's service goals for 
     veterans in East Central Florida.'' If implemented, this 
     action would also provide transitional care for our returning 
     veterans and ensure the maximum utilization of space at the 
     Baldwin Park facility. I respectfully request that this 
     proposal be part of your final decision in the space 
     utilization of the Baldwin Park VA site after the Lake Nona 
     complex is complete.
       I look forward to working with you to ensure that our 
     veterans receive the best medical care possible and once 
     again respectfully request that you consider these proposals.
           Sincerely,
                                                     John L. Mica,
     Member of Congress.
                                  ____



                                Congress of the United States,

                                    Washington, DC, April 9, 2014.
     Hon. Eric Shinseki,
     Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Secretary Shinseki: This year, as we approach the 
     completion of construction of the new veterans' hospital and 
     medical complex at Lake Nona, we would like to request that 
     you consider keeping the existing clinic and medical 
     facilities at Baldwin Park in service to our veterans. This 
     complex is a valuable federal asset that must not sit idle 
     once the new medical center opens.
       With an increasing veteran population that is already the 
     second largest in the nation, including those service men and 
     women now returning from overseas conflicts, it is important 
     that we plan now for their future medical care.
       In the past, we have encouraged you to consider keeping 
     this medical care facility open. We are now asking that you 
     act soon to ensure that the VA will preserve and utilize this 
     much needed VA property as Florida's veteran population 
     continues to expand.
       The recently opened Lake Nona veterans' 120-bed nursing 
     facility and 60 bed domiciliary care unit are already at 
     capacity and the demand for VA services will continue to grow 
     in the Sunshine State.
       These men and women who have faithfully served our nation 
     deserve the very best medical care and the taxpayers valuable 
     assets must not sit idle.
       We thank you for your consideration of this request.
           Sincerely,
     John L. Mica.
     Alan Grayson.
     Daniel Webster.
     Corrine Brown.

  Mr. MICA. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                  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, $51,528,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2019: Provided, That of the amount appropriated, not to 
     exceed $2,123,000 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.

                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, $49,492,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That of the 
     amount appropriated, not to exceed $6,892,000 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, $199,700,000, 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, 
     $78,609,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019.

[[Page 6575]]



             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, $350,976,000.

           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, $16,412,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2019.

    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, $354,029,000.

          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, $327,747,000.

         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, $61,100,000.

         Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund

       For the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement 
     Fund, $1,662,000, 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.

          Chemical Demilitarization Construction, Defense-Wide

       For expenses of construction, not otherwise provided for, 
     necessary for the destruction of the United States stockpile 
     of lethal chemical agents and munitions in accordance with 
     section 1412 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 
     1986 (50 U.S.C. 1521), and for the destruction of other 
     chemical warfare materials that are not in the chemical 
     weapon stockpile, as currently authorized by law, 
     $38,715,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019, 
     which shall be only for the Assembled Chemical Weapons 
     Alternatives program.

               Department of Defense Base Closure Account

       For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure 
     Account, established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Defense 
     Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 
     note), as amended by section 2711 of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239), 
     $270,085,000, to remain available until expended.

                       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 Sea, 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 within the United States Central Command Area of 
     Responsibility, 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.  Not more than 20 percent of the funds made 
     available in this title which are limited for obligation 
     during the current fiscal year shall be obligated during the 
     last 2 months of the fiscal year.
       Sec. 115.  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. 116.  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.
       Sec. 117.  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. 118.  In addition to any other transfer authority 
     available to the Department of Defense, proceeds deposited to 
     the Department of Defense Base Closure Account established by 
     section 207(a)(1) of the Defense Authorization Amendments and 
     Base Closure and Realignment Act (10 U.S.C. 2687 note) 
     pursuant to section 207(a)(2)(C) of such Act, may be 
     transferred to the account established by section 2906(a)(1) 
     of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 
     U.S.C. 2687 note), to be merged with, and to be available for 
     the same purposes and the same time period as that account.

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Sec. 119.  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

[[Page 6576]]

     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. 120.  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. 121.  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 $15,000 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. 122.  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. 123.  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.
       Sec. 124. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), none of 
     the funds made available in this Act may be used by the 
     Secretary of the Army to relocate a unit in the Army that--
       (1) performs a testing mission or function that is not 
     performed by any other unit in the Army and is specifically 
     stipulated in title 10, United States Code; and
       (2) is located at a military installation at which the 
     total number of civilian employees of the Department of the 
     Army and Army contractor personnel employed exceeds 10 
     percent of the total number of members of the regular and 
     reserve components of the Army assigned to the installation.
       (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply if the 
     Secretary of the Army certifies to the congressional defense 
     committees that in proposing the relocation of the unit of 
     the Army, the Secretary complied with Army Regulation 5-10 
     relating to the policy, procedures, and responsibilities for 
     Army stationing actions.
       Sec. 125.  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 February 2009, as in 
     effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
       Sec. 126.  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. 127.  For an additional amount for ``Military 
     Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', ``Military 
     Construction, Air Force'', ``Military Construction, Army 
     Reserve'', and ``Military Construction, Navy Reserve'', 
     $125,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2018: 
     Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     such funds may be obligated and expended to carry out 
     construction of projects, excluding in Europe, as authorized 
     in division B of Public Law 113-66: Provided further, That 
     not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan 
     for funds provided under this heading.
       Sec. 128.  For an additional amount for ``Military 
     Construction, Army'' , ``Military Construction, Army National 
     Guard'', and ``Military Construction, Army Reserve'', 
     $245,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: 
     Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     such funds may only be obligated to carry out construction of 
     projects as authorized in division B of an Act authorizing 
     appropriations for fiscal year 2015 for military activities 
     of the Department of Defense (relating to Military 
     Construction Authorizations): Provided further, That not 
     later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
     of the Army shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations 
     of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds 
     provided under this heading.

                    (including rescission of funds)

       Sec. 129.  Of the unobligated balances available for 
     ``Military Construction, Army'', from prior appropriations 
     Acts (other than appropriations designated by law as being 
     for contingency operations directly related to the global war 
     on terrorism or as an emergency requirement), $79,577,000 are 
     hereby rescinded.

                    (including rescission of funds)

       Sec. 130.  Of the unobligated balances available for ``NATO 
     Security Investment Program'', from prior appropriations Acts 
     (other than appropriations designated by law as being for 
     contingency operations directly related to the global war on 
     terrorism or as an emergency requirement), $25,000,000 are 
     hereby rescinded.

                    (including rescission of funds)

       Sec. 131.  Of the unobligated balances made available in 
     prior appropriation Acts for the fund established in section 
     1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan 
     Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) (other than 
     appropriations designated by law as being for contingency 
     operations directly related to the global war on terrorism or 
     as an emergency requirement), $100,000,000 are hereby 
     rescinded.
       Sec. 132.  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.

                                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, $78,687,709,000, to remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That not to exceed $15,430,000 of the amount 
     appropriated 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,

[[Page 6577]]

     36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States 
     Code, $14,761,862,000, 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, title 38, United States 
     Code, $63,257,000, 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 2015, 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, $160,881,000.

  Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last 
word.
  The CHAIR. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.

                              {time}  1500

  Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to bring the 
House's attention to an important issue.
  The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, also known as VRAP, which 
has helped our veterans retrain to develop the skills they need for 
jobs of today, expired on March 31. I had planned to offer an amendment 
today to reauthorize the program and provide funding for the Veterans 
Retraining Assistance Program. However, I understand the amendment 
would have been subject to a point of order. Nevertheless, this 
critical issue is deserving of the House's attention.
  As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic 
Opportunity, I know well the struggles our unemployed veterans face on 
a daily basis to reenter the workforce. In my home district in Ventura 
County, where I am proud to represent Naval Base Ventura County, we 
have a large community of veterans who have sacrificed for our country 
and who deserve every effort we can to ensure they receive the training 
they need to find the jobs they deserve, especially after the recent 
recession.
  It is deeply disappointing that the 113th Congress has allowed this 
critical job training program to expire. VRAP helps veterans who are no 
longer eligible for the GI Bill to get the training they need at 
community colleges and technical schools in high-demand occupations. 
One such veteran who is being helped by VRAP is my constituent, 
Jonathan Pascua. Jonathan is a first-generation Filipino American from 
Oxnard who served in the United States Marine Corps from 1995 to 2013.
  As an Active Duty marine, he handled telecommunications on a vessel 
in theater during the Iraq war supporting his brothers and sisters who 
landed ashore. When Jonathan was preparing to retire from the Marine 
Corps, he learned about VRAP through their education benefits class and 
signed up for the program. He is currently a full-time student in 
Oxnard majoring in business management and is scheduled to graduate in 
2015.
  As a result of VRAP's expiration, Jonathan may not be able to afford 
to continue. That would be devastating for Jonathan and a tragedy for 
our country. That is why I introduced H.R. 4149, the bipartisan Help 
Hire Our Heroes Act, which has gained support from the American Legion, 
Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Association of the United States Navy.
  Despite the obvious need for reauthorization of this important 
program and this body's solemn obligation to serve our veterans as they 
have served our Nation, my bill has still not been brought forward for 
a vote. My amendment would have ensured that this critical program 
continue, and I am disappointed that I was unable to offer it here 
today.
  The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program has succeeded in helping 
many veterans retrain and find employment, and it should not have been 
allowed to lapse. Because our veterans, like Jonathan, were there for 
us, it is our duty to be there for them. Therefore, I urge the 
leadership of this Chamber to quickly bring forward legislation that 
will extend the VRAP program and help our unemployed veterans.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

            vocational rehabilitation loans program account

       For the cost of direct loans, $10,000, 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 
     $2,877,000.

  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Washington is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak in support of Project 
Labor Agreements.
  As the House begins consideration of the annual Department of 
Veterans Affairs-Military Construction Appropriations bill later today, 
I urge my colleagues to continue to support Project Labor Agreements.
  We have a great example of just how effective and efficient PLA 
projects can be with the Navy's largest ongoing military construction 
project--the construction for the second Explosives Handling Wharf at 
Naval Base Kitsap. The Explosive Handling Wharf is a critical component 
of our Nation's nuclear deterrent capability. The use of a PLA at a 
site of this significance is telling.
  The Navy recently shared with me that:

       To date, the PLA has performed its primary function by 
     ensuring no labor disputes interfered with the progress of 
     work on the project and that the project is on schedule and 
     the PLA is operating as intended.

  Mr. Chairman, why would we remove such a useful tool for military 
construction, especially at a time when budgets are tight and 
milestones are tighter? Let's stay on the path to success and maintain 
the continued use of Project Labor Agreements.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Colorado is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I rise for the purpose of engaging in a 
colloquy with the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. Chairman, I believe we can all agree that honoring our Nation's 
veterans is of vital importance. They sacrifice so much for us and ask 
for so little in return. One thing that means so much to so many 
veterans in the Fifth Congressional District of Colorado is the 
establishment of a Southern Colorado National VA Cemetery.
  Would the chairman agree that it is critical to provide dignified 
final resting places for our heroes and that it is important to 
conveniently locate them near large veterans populations?
  Mr. CULBERSON. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. LAMBORN. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CULBERSON. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Yes, of course, I completely agree with you that one of the 
fundamental obligations of the United States of America is to ensure 
that these men and women who have served their country have earned that 
piece of earth as a convenient and dignified final resting place.
  Mr. LAMBORN. I thank the chairman for his words of agreement. Given 
the advanced stage of the project and the amount of work that has 
already taken place on the Southern Colorado National VA Cemetery, 
including land being purchased in southeast Colorado Springs and master 
planning due to start in mere months, would the chairman also agree 
that it is vital that we

[[Page 6578]]

work together to ensure that construction is fully funded in the 
appropriations process for upcoming fiscal years?
  I yield to the gentleman.
  Mr. CULBERSON. I completely agree with you, Mr. Lamborn, that this 
project is too far along, and it is important that we fund it in fiscal 
year 2016, and I will work with you and your colleagues from Colorado 
to ensure it is funded.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Well, I thank the chairman, and I look forward to 
working with him. I appreciate the hard work he does for our military 
and for our veterans, including this particular important project. I 
pledge to work with him on these and other matters as we seek to honor 
our Nation's veterans.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct loan program, $361,000, which may be paid to 
     the appropriation for ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans 
     Benefits Administration''.

          native american veteran housing loan program account

       For administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan 
     program authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, 
     United States Code, $1,130,000.

                     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, aid to State homes 
     as authorized by section 1741 of 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), and hospital 
     care and medical services authorized by section 1787 of title 
     38, United States Code, $47,603,202,000, plus reimbursements, 
     shall become available on October 1, 2015, and shall remain 
     available until September 30, 2016: Provided, 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.

                     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.), $6,144,000,000, plus reimbursements, 
     shall become available on October 1, 2015, and shall remain 
     available until September 30, 2016.

                           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, 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, $4,915,000,000, plus 
     reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 2015, 
     and shall remain available until September 30, 2016.

                    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, $588,922,000, 
     plus reimbursements, shall remain available until September 
     30, 2016.

                    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, $256,800,000, of which not 
     to exceed $25,600,000 shall remain available until September 
     30, 2016.

                      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, $321,591,000, of 
     which not to exceed $16,080,000 shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2016: Provided, That funds provided under this 
     heading may be transferred to ``General Operating Expenses, 
     Veterans Benefits Administration''.


                    Amendment Offered by Ms. Sinema

  Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 31, line 12, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.
       Page 36, line 5, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Chairman, the Sinema-Salmon amendment is a 
commonsense, budget-neutral fix that helps restore our veterans' trust 
in the VA by transferring additional resources to the VA Office of 
Inspector General so that it can carry out its mission to provide 
oversight and accountability.
  Our amendment increases funding for the VA OIG by $1 million and 
offsets this increase by reducing VA General Administration funding by 
the same amount.
  I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Military 
Construction and VA appropriations subcommittee, Mr. Culberson and Mr. 
Bishop, for supporting this amendment and for working with us on this 
issue.
  Mr. Chairman, we offer this amendment because the recent allegations 
of secret lists and long wait times at the Phoenix VA, which may have 
caused some 40 veteran deaths, require answers and action. This is 
immoral, unconscionable, irresponsible, and un-American.
  We need answers in Phoenix. But this is not an isolated incident. A 
December 2012 GAO report found that Veterans Health Administration wait 
times are unreliable. Stories of health complications and deaths 
because of wait times have surfaced in other parts of the country, 
including South Carolina and Texas. That this is happening to the good 
people who have defended our flag and our freedoms is beyond the pale.
  I have worked on veterans' issues for a long time, and it is wrong 
that it took deaths to get action--but there had better be action now. 
I vow to help veterans and veteran families in any way I can, and I 
urge families to reach out to my office so we can help.
  The morning after the story was reported in Arizona, the parents of 
Daniel Somers, a veteran who committed suicide in my district last 
summer, called me, and they told me that they believe Daniel may have 
been one of the 40 on that list.
  Our veterans and their families--families like the Somers--need 
answers, and we must hold accountable those responsible. That is the 
only way that we can restore veterans' trust and the public trust in 
the VA health care system.
  The Sinema-Salmon amendment, which will improve oversight and 
accountability at the VA, is a step towards restoring that trust.

[[Page 6579]]

  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SALMON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SALMON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the gentlewoman 
from the Ninth Congressional District of Arizona, which is right 
adjacent to mine. She is my neighbor, and I am proud to cosponsor this 
with her to show a strong unity of bipartisanship for our veterans. And 
if there isn't a better cause here in Washington, D.C., to stand 
bipartisan with, I don't know what it is.
  I want to echo some of the things that Congresswoman Sinema has said. 
This is unconscionable. And since these allegations have come to light, 
we have received numerous phone calls in our district from other like-
minded people that have said, I had a similar circumstance happen to 
me.
  So when Representative Sinema approached me about cosponsoring this 
amendment to allocate $1 million from the general fund of the Veterans 
Administration and appropriate it to the IG so that we can get a 
thorough investigation, it seems to me that this is the least we can 
do.
  Why is this important? You might remember just a few years ago that a 
gentleman named--I call him gentleman, I think that is a loose term--
Ken Lay, the CEO of Enron, went to prison for cooking the books. Now we 
have got some serious allegations about those that are entrusted with a 
sacred trust--our veterans' very livelihood--at stake. And I believe 
that this group of folks in the Veterans Administration has betrayed 
that trust. But we have got to get to the bottom of it.
  Why is it important? Because it is the integrity of the system. A lot 
of the folks in my district, the veterans, have said that they don't 
have the confidence to even be utilizing that system anymore, and so 
they are right now going out of network. They are paying out of their 
pocket. I have heard many of them say that, as well.
  So we, as a Congress, are required to provide oversight for these 
kinds of programs and ensure that they are getting the best--not the 
mediocre, and certainly not the worst, which I believe is happening 
right now in our own State in Arizona--and we demand justice. We demand 
some sunshine. Sunshine is the best disinfectant, and we demand some 
sunshine on this process. That is why we want to investigate it.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this 
amendment and urge my colleagues to adopt it. I am, as we all are, 
appalled, mortified, and heartsick over these reports out of the 
Phoenix VA. It is appalling to think that any veteran who has served 
our country would be denied access to medical care, much less lose 
their life or have permanent damage to their health.
  I cannot imagine the agony these families are going through, so 
therefore the amendment is a good idea to give an additional $1 million 
to the inspector general, who is capable of conducting the type of 
investigation necessary to determine what actually happened here. In 
the instant, if there does, indeed, appear to be deliberate, 
intentional refusal to put these folks into the VA system, there will 
be criminal charges, and we will make sure of that. We will make sure 
that if anyone has been denied service, they are held accountable for 
it.
  It is an appalling set of circumstances genuinely. It is a terrible 
reflection on all the good men and women, the doctors, and the health 
care professionals that work throughout the VA system do, do their best 
to provide top quality medical care to our veterans as they come out of 
Active Duty service to the country.

                              {time}  1515

  So we are anxious to see what the facts are and criminal charges be 
pressed if, indeed, it turns out to be as we have seen in the press, so 
I strongly support the amendment and urge Members to adopt it.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, when I learned of the 
allegations of intentional misrepresentation of wait times, which may 
have caused some 40 deaths at the Phoenix VA, I was deeply disappointed 
and downright disgusted.
  I am pleased to see a bipartisan approach, and I believe this 
amendment will provide additional resources to the VA Office of 
Inspector General to improve oversight and accountability at the VA.
  I agree with my colleagues from Arizona that this situation requires 
answers and a thorough investigation. I believe Congress should allow 
the VA IG to complete its investigation, so the Congress can take 
appropriate action, if needed. The last thing I want is a knee-jerk 
reaction that could cause additional problems.
  I believe this amendment is the right approach, and I fully support 
it, and I urge all Members to do the same. I believe that a thorough 
investigation of the matter is the only way to restore our veterans' 
trust and the public trust in the VA health care system.
  We owe it to our veterans to ensure that the VA is providing the best 
possible care and that care is timely and accessible. I think this 
amendment will help achieve that goal.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this amendment, 
which seeks to redirect funds from the general administration account 
to the Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general's office.
  As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I 
am a firm believer in oversight of the Federal Government. The more 
sunlight on Federal activity, the more honest and efficient it will be. 
I am also a strong proponent of the inspector general community.
  Since the Inspector General Act was passed into law, the IG community 
has saved taxpayers billions of dollars and has uncovered countless 
examples of wrongdoing in the Federal Government.
  These allegations about the Phoenix VA health care system are 
troubling, but I am also a firm believer of the rule of law. These 
investigations must be completed in order for us to have these answers. 
The answers from the IG report will yield both improvements to the VA 
process and hold accountable anyone who has done any harm.
  I support this amendment because I support a timely, but thorough 
resolution to the investigation. Let us give the IG's office the 
resources it needs. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support passage of this commonsense amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Colorado is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support as the chairman of the 
Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee for the House Veterans' 
Affairs Committee.
  I rise in support of the Sinema-Salmon bipartisan amendment to 
transfer funds from the general administration line item within the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to the Office of Inspector General for 
the purpose of really looking into this issue, the issue of veterans 
dying from preventable illnesses because, in fact, the VA was playing a 
game in the Phoenix VA hospital with appointment times.
  My office--my investigators last Monday turned over this ``secret 
list'' that the VA was using that they, in fact, are denying today to 
the VA Office of Inspector General.
  In that list, it will demonstrate that there are veterans with 
preventable illnesses that died waiting for an appointment, and we also 
know that there

[[Page 6580]]

were administrators who received bonuses for supposedly bringing down 
these wait times for appointments.
  My greatest fear is not only that this act which has criminal 
implications, this alleged act which has criminal implications, 
occurred in the Phoenix VA hospital, but also my concern is that it is 
more widespread, it is more systematic, that it is something that the 
leadership in the VA has knowingly or unwittingly allowed to occur, and 
so I think it is important for us to get down to the bottom of it.
  It is a great tragedy that we don't have confidence--certainly, I 
don't have confidence in the leadership of the Veterans Administration 
in and of themselves to get down to the bottom of it, and it takes the 
Office of the Inspector General and that it takes my investigators in 
the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee for the House Veterans' 
Affairs Committee to uncover these things, bring these things to light, 
and move them forward.
  So, again, I rise in support of the Sinema-Salmon bipartisan 
amendment to transfer moneys from the administration of the Veterans 
Administration to the Office of Inspector General to move these 
investigations forward; and if, in fact, they are found to be true, I 
certainly hope that they are referred to criminal prosecution.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the 
Salmon-Sinema amendment to increase funding for the VA Office of the 
Inspector General in order to provide accountability at the VA and 
increase quality of care.
  It has been recently reported that veterans are dying while waiting 
for treatment, including at the West Palm Beach VA facility that serves 
my district. Following this news, allegations have surfaced that 40 
veterans in the Phoenix VA health care system died while being placed 
on a secret wait list. This is beyond unacceptable.
  Mr. Chairman, it is vital that the inspector general get to the 
bottom of these claims as soon as possible so that veterans of the Palm 
Beaches, Treasure Coast, and around the country who fought for our 
freedoms get the timely and high-quality care they deserve.
  I thank my colleagues from Arizona, Congresswoman Sinema and 
Congressman Salmon, for their leadership on this pressing issue.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment. It is my 
job as ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Oversight and 
Investigations Subcommittee to ensure that we get to the bottom of the 
allegations that patients died at the Phoenix VA due to delayed care.
  I want to ensure that the inspector general has the resources it 
needs to conduct a swift and thorough investigation of the Phoenix VA 
and at other facilities where treatment delays are reported.
  We need to ensure there is accountability and that veterans will 
never again wait for the care they deserve. Delayed care is denied 
care, and veterans should never have to fight to receive care when they 
have already served and sacrificed for our country.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this important 
bipartisan amendment that will provide additional funding to support 
the VA Office of Inspector General. This will help provide the 
oversight and accountability that is currently needed in the VA. As we 
all know, recently, allegations of a secret waiting list at the Phoenix 
VA health care system may well have led to the preventable deaths of up 
to 40 veterans.
  I am appalled and infuriated to think that the VA ignored the needs 
of those who served our country and forced them to wait months to see a 
doctor.
  We have demanded that the VA Secretary address these allegations of 
falsified records, preventable or premature deaths, mismanagement, and 
other systematic problems in the VA; but more must be done. We must 
quickly get to the bottom of this and bring about swift action to 
prevent a reoccurrence, so that our veterans get prompt access to the 
best possible care that they so richly deserve.
  The amendment we are introducing will provide the necessary resources 
to the VA inspector general that he or she will need to investigate 
these horrendous allegations and provide the public and the grieving 
families the answers they deserve.
  Once the investigation is completed, those who are found responsible 
should be quickly held accountable. We must restore our veterans' trust 
in the VA health care system, so that our men and women who have 
sacrificed so much for our country can finally get the care they have 
earned.
  As the son of a veteran and a Member of Congress representing 85,000 
veterans, Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
to support this amendment, so we can find the answers and take action 
to hold the VA accountable.
  Ms. SINEMA. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. BARBER. I yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona.
  Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Chair, I just want to thank the chair of the 
committee, Mr. Culberson; our ranking member, Mr. Bishop; and Mr. 
Salmon for cosponsoring the amendment, as well as all of my colleagues 
from Arizona and around the country for joining together on this 
bipartisan amendment.
  Mr. BARBER. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. Sinema).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Costa

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 
4486.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 31, line 12, after the first dollar amount, insert the 
     following: ``(reduced by $10,500,000)''.
       Page 32, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert the 
     following: ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, this bill makes critical investments in our 
military and upholds a sacred promise we make to our men and women in 
uniform that we will stand by them when they return home, but we can do 
more.
  My amendment provides additional funding to end what has been a 
shameful backlog of disability claims that, for too long, has delayed 
benefits for veterans throughout the west coast, especially in the San 
Joaquin Valley that I represent.
  The Oakland regional office services the majority of veterans 
throughout the west coast and in my district. Sadly, it has one of the 
largest loads of backlogged casework. Currently, more than 10,000 
entitlement claims are stuck in this backlog, and the average claim is 
left pending for nearly 400 days, which is over a year. This is 
unacceptable. It is immoral.
  Yesterday, the Central Valley Honor Flight brought 68 World War II 
veterans from California to see the World War II Memorial and other 
important monuments in our Nation's capital. These men and women raised 
their right hand over 70 years ago and took an oath that they would 
defend our Nation and our freedom for the future of democracy 
throughout the world.
  Their efforts and their honor is without question. This is a depth 
that we can never repay. Therefore, it is our obligation to provide 
them with the care that they earned for their service to our country.
  This amendment I am offering today honors the service of these World 
War II veterans and veterans of all the wars who have served our 
Nation. Specifically, this amendment provides $10

[[Page 6581]]

million to the Veterans Benefit Administration to pay for programs like 
the veterans' claims intake program, the centralized mail initiative, 
and staff overtime.

                              {time}  1530

  No one can deny that the Veterans Administration recently has taken 
strong and meaningful steps to end the backlog, but we can do more. 
They have gone from 2\1/2\ years now to over 400 days. Well, that is 
progress, but it is not good enough.
  Our work is not complete until we are able to strip every bit of red 
tape separating a veteran from the benefits that they have earned and 
should receive.
  I want to thank my colleagues who have cosponsored this amendment: 
Congressman LaMalfa, Congressman Thompson, Congressman Denham, and 
Congressman Lowenthal; and I want to thank Chairman Culberson, as well 
as Ranking Member Bishop for their efforts and good work on this 
important bill.
  I hope that we will adopt this amendment, so that we can do the right 
thing, which is end this backlog once and for all, so veterans who have 
served their country can receive the benefits that they so richly 
deserve.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank my colleague Mr. 
Costa and my other California colleagues, as well as everybody in this 
body that seeks to make things right with our veterans and the VA.
  While I always support reasonable spending, I would rather direct 
appropriate funding from the general fund towards the issue that is 
causing all the other horrendous issues at the VA. It is the backlog of 
veterans' claims.
  All the illegal and unthinkable activities that have been uncovered 
in the last year, much of it, I believe, stems from the backlog that is 
only going to increase if the VA does not get things right and quickly.
  I have veterans in my district that have claims that have been 
pending for over a year. This is simply unacceptable--in many cases, 
well over a year; in some cases, decades.
  Much like Mr. Costa, my veterans feed into the Oakland VA. This 
facility has the longest wait time for claims to be finished in all of 
the U.S. Our veterans do not deserve this. Something has to change, and 
it has to happen now. Today, we are drawing a line in the sand that 
this backlog is unacceptable.
  My hope is that this amendment offered by Mr. Costa, Mr. Thompson, 
myself, and several others will be a step in the right direction in 
getting these claims closed in a fair and timely manner. We are giving 
the VA the necessary resources to get this done. We expect them to 
actually get it done.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentleman's 
amendment. Along with the electronic medical records, there is no more 
important thing this committee and this Congress can do to help our 
veterans to ensure the rapid disposal of this terrible backlog in 
disability claims.
  I fully support the amendment. It builds on the $20 million increase 
we have already provided in the bill. I assure my colleagues that Mr. 
Bishop and I will continue to exercise aggressive oversight to ensure 
the money is spent wisely and carefully to reduce the backlog and that 
the VA meet their deadlines to get the backlog disposed of as quickly 
as humanly possible.
  I support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, first, I rise in support of the Costa 
amendment.
  I also want to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop and 
also Representative Costa for the time that they have given me to speak 
about this. My congressional district is home to the Long Beach VA, 
which is one of the largest institutions for veterans in southern 
California.
  In California, there is currently one congressional affairs analyst 
to assist 33 congressional offices that have questions about casework. 
There are delays in responses to congressional caseworkers and an even 
longer delay in aid and attendance claims, particularly when those 
claims regard elderly frail veterans with rapidly declining health 
issues and sometimes, unfortunately, approval comes too late.
  While it is critically important that we provide overtime pay for 
workers who are already stretched thin--and I think that is critically 
important--I also encourage the department to use some of these funds 
to hire additional staff.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Costa amendment to H.R. 4486 and 
encourage the Veterans Benefits Administration to hire more staff to 
address the VA backlog and to help our Nation's veterans.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Costa).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                       board of veterans appeals

       For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Veterans 
     Appeals, $94,294,000, of which not to exceed $9,429,000 shall 
     remain available until September 30, 2016.

      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, $2,514,254,000: 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 $125,000,000 
     shall remain available until September 30, 2016.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Ruiz

  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 32, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 
4486, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act.
  This amendment is for the brave men and women who have served our 
country, our veterans. Right now, in my district and across the Nation, 
thousands of veterans who have sacrificed for our country are 
struggling to receive access to benefits that they have earned. This is 
due to the enormous claims backlog at the Veterans Affairs 
Administration.
  Currently, California is home to almost 2 million veterans, almost 
140,000 in Riverside County alone. There is an additional 40,000 
veterans expected to return to the State every year for the next 
several years.
  As our troops continue to return home and assimilate back into 
civilian life, it is critical we are able to keep faith with our 
veterans and ensure they have timely access to critical benefits.
  Too often, Washington becomes bogged down with statistics on a page 
or numbers on a screen that show how this backlog is affecting 
veterans, but the people this is affecting are not just a statistic. 
They are men and women, like retired Air Force Master Sergeant Andrew 
Walker and his family from Beaumont, California, who I represent.
  Mr. Walker and his family struggled with the VA, waiting years on 
end,

[[Page 6582]]

without receiving the critical health benefits he earned and needed. 
Due to what seemed like an insurmountable claims backlog, Mr. Walker 
told me that he suffered pain and frustration, leading to hopelessness 
and despair. He felt dejected and lost. This is unconscionable and no 
way to treat a veteran and his family.
  I am thankful I was able to help resolve Mr. Walker's claim, but the 
reality is there are many more stories just like this one that continue 
every day across the country. It is critical that we as a Nation work 
urgently to address the claims backlog.
  That is why I am offering this amendment to advocate for an 
additional $5 million to fund the digital scanning of health and 
benefits files to reduce the backlog by redirecting funding within the 
general operating expenses account of the Veterans Benefits 
Administration.
  This amendment simply directs funds towards the digital scanning of 
health and benefit files that will reduce the claims backlog without 
any new spending. As an emergency medicine physician, I understand the 
importance of efficiency in health care.
  By committing resources to digitizing health and benefit files, we 
will further increase VA's capacity to tackle the claims backlog, 
ensuring veterans receive the benefits that they have earned in a 
timely manner.
  Let us continue to bear in mind that these men and women have served 
this country and they have put their lives on the line. We must serve 
them by making certain that Congress focuses on eliminating the claims 
backlog for good.
  I encourage my colleagues to stand up for veterans and support my 
pragmatic amendment to reduce the veterans' claims processing time.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentleman's 
amendment.
  This is something that we have all worked together arm in arm and 
welcome the additional resources with the assurance to our employers--
the taxpayers--that we will provide aggressive oversight and ensure 
that the money is actually used to reduce the backlog as fast as 
humanly possible and, above all, to enforce the law because the 
greatest check and balance we have as guardians of the Treasury and 
good stewards of our taxpayers' hard-earned tax dollars is the power of 
the purse.
  I welcome the gentleman's amendment and look forward to supporting 
it.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Ruiz).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last 
word.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Washington is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I would like to engage in a 
colloquy of the subcommittee leadership.
  First off, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for 
agreeing to work with me on an issue that is very important to former 
servicemembers.
  After a decade at war, many women servicemembers, for instance, are 
at risk for reproductive and urinary tract problems. This risk results 
from deployment conditions and a lack of predeployment women's health 
information.
  In addition, the nature of the current conflict and increasing use of 
improvised explosive devices have left servicemembers with blast 
injuries that include spinal cord injury and trauma to the reproductive 
and urinary tracts.
  The result is a severe impact to these servicemembers and their 
ability to create and raise a family upon their return from the 
battlefield.
  According to the Department of Defense, between 2003 and 2011, nearly 
2,000 women and men suffered these life-changing battle injuries during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Disabled veterans have already paid much too high a price in service 
to our country. They should not have to pay a higher cost when they 
come home to try to start a family. The Department of Veterans Affairs 
cannot provide the care that they need.
  While the Department of Defense and TRICARE are already able to 
provide the necessary treatment to servicemembers with these injuries, 
the VA services are not able to meet the complex needs of severely 
injured veterans.
  I hope I can continue to call up on the able leadership of the 
subcommittee to help resolve this issue as we move forward on this bill 
and move it to conference.
  With that, I yield to the ranking member.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Washington for bringing this issue to our attention. I will certainly 
work with you, as well I am sure the chairman will and the members of 
our subcommittee, as we go forward to find a meaningful solution to 
this problem.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. I want to thank the ranking member and the 
leadership of the subcommittee, Mr. Chairman.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                     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, $3,870,552,000, plus reimbursements: Provided, 
     That $1,039,000,000 shall be for pay and associated costs, of 
     which not to exceed $31,170,000 shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2016: Provided further, That $2,283,217,000 
     shall be for operations and maintenance, of which not to 
     exceed $160,000,000 shall remain available until September 
     30, 2016: Provided further, That $548,335,000 shall be for 
     information technology systems development, modernization, 
     and enhancement, and shall remain available until September 
     30, 2016: Provided further, That amounts made available for 
     information technology systems development, modernization, 
     and enhancement may not be obligated or expended until the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Chief Information 
     Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs submits to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a 
     certification of the amounts, in parts or in full, to be 
     obligated and expended for each development project: Provided 
     further, That amounts made available for salaries and 
     expenses, operations and maintenance, and information 
     technology systems development, modernization, and 
     enhancement 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, 
     modernization, and enhancement may be transferred among 
     projects or to newly defined projects: Provided further, That 
     no project may be increased or decreased by more than 
     $1,000,000 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 funds under this heading may be used by the Interagency 
     Program Office through the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
     develop a standard data reference terminology model: Provided 
     further, That of the funds made available for information 
     technology systems development, modernization, and 
     enhancement for VistA Evolution, not more than 25 percent may 
     be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs submits to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
     Houses of Congress, and such Committees approve, a report 
     that describes: (1) the status of VistA Evolution project 
     development and any corrective actions taken where the plan 
     established in the VistA Evolution program plan (hereinafter 
     referred to as the ``Plan''), VistA 4 product roadmap 
     (Roadmap), or the VistA Evolution cost estimate, dated March 
     24, 2014 may have fallen short; (2) any changes to the scope 
     of the VistA Evolution program as established in the Plan; 
     (3) actual program costs incurred and any refinements to the 
     cost estimate presented in the Plan based on actual costs 
     incurred; (4) progress in meeting the schedule milestones 
     that have been established in the Plan; (5) program 
     performance

[[Page 6583]]

     relative to the performance measures that have been 
     identified in the Plan and the Roadmap; (6) plans for testing 
     the VistA system and test results; (7) VistA Evolution 
     program risks and issues that have been identified and any 
     agency responses to such risks and issues; (8) the effort to 
     achieve interoperability between the electronic health record 
     systems of the Department of Defense and the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, including the scope, cost, schedule, and 
     performance benchmarks of the interoperable record; and (9) 
     progress toward developing and implementing the interoperable 
     electronic health record throughout the two Departments' 
     medical facilities: Provided further, That the funds made 
     available under this heading for information technology 
     systems development, modernization, and enhancement, shall be 
     for the projects, and in the amounts, specified under this 
     heading in the report accompanying this Act.

                      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.), $121,411,000, of which $10,000,000 shall remain 
     available until September 30, 2016.

                      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, 
     $561,800,000, of which $527,800,000 shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2019, and of which $34,000,000 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 
     investment strategy studies funded through the advance 
     planning fund and the planning and design activities funded 
     through the design fund, including needs assessments which 
     may or may not lead to capital investments, and salaries and 
     associated costs of the resident engineers who oversee those 
     capital investments funded through this account, and funds 
     provided for the purchase of land for the National Cemetery 
     Administration through the land acquisition line item, none 
     of the funds made available under this heading shall be used 
     for any project which has not been approved by the Congress 
     in the budgetary process: Provided further, That funds made 
     available under this heading for fiscal year 2015, for each 
     approved project shall be obligated: (1) by the awarding of a 
     construction documents contract by September 30, 2015; and 
     (2) by the awarding of a construction contract by September 
     30, 2016: 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 or less than the amount set 
     forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States 
     Code, $495,200,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2019, 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, $80,000,000, 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, 
     $45,000,000, to remain available until expended.

                       Administrative Provisions

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Sec. 201.  Any appropriation for fiscal year 2015 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 2015, in this Act or any 
     other Act, under the ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Support 
     and Compliance'', and ``Medical Facilities'' accounts may be 
     transferred among the accounts: Provided, That any transfers 
     between the ``Medical Services'' 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 between the ``Medical 
     Services'' 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 2014.
       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 2015, 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

[[Page 6584]]

     the surplus earnings accumulated in such an insurance program 
     during fiscal year 2015 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 2015 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, may be obligated during the 
     fiscal year in which the proceeds are received.

                     (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 of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Office of 
     Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication under 
     section 319 of title 38, United States Code, for all services 
     provided at rates which will recover actual costs but not to 
     exceed $42,904,000 for the Office of Resolution Management 
     and $3,400,000 for the Office of Employment Discrimination 
     Complaint Adjudication: 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 appropriations in this title shall be 
     available to enter into any new lease of real property if the 
     estimated annual rental cost is more than $1,000,000, unless 
     the Secretary submits a report which the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress approve within 30 
     days following the date on which the report is received.
       Sec. 212.  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. 213.  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. 214.  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. 215.  Such sums as may be deposited to the Medical 
     Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, 
     United States Code, may be transferred to ``Medical 
     Services'', to remain available until expended for the 
     purposes of that account.
       Sec. 216.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into 
     agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organizations which 
     are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian 
     Health Service, and Indian tribes and tribal organizations 
     serving rural Alaska which have entered into contracts with 
     the Indian Health Service under the Indian Self Determination 
     and Educational Assistance Act, to provide healthcare, 
     including behavioral health and dental care. The Secretary 
     shall require participating veterans and facilities to comply 
     with all appropriate rules and regulations, as established by 
     the Secretary. The term ``rural Alaska'' shall mean those 
     lands sited within the external boundaries of the Alaska 
     Native regions specified in sections 7(a)(1)-(4) and (7)-(12) 
     of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended (43 
     U.S.C. 1606), and those lands within the Alaska Native 
     regions specified in sections 7(a)(5) and 7(a)(6) of the 
     Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 
     1606), which are not within the boundaries of the 
     municipality of Anchorage, the Fairbanks North Star Borough, 
     the Kenai Peninsula Borough or the Matanuska Susitna Borough.

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Sec. 217.  Such sums as may be deposited to 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. 218.  None of the funds made available in this title 
     may be used to implement any policy prohibiting the Directors 
     of the Veterans Integrated Services Networks from conducting 
     outreach or marketing to enroll new veterans within their 
     respective Networks.
       Sec. 219.  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
     to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
     Congress a quarterly report on the financial status of the 
     Veterans Health Administration.

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Sec. 220.  Amounts made available under the ``Medical 
     Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical 
     Facilities'', ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 
     Administration'', ``General Administration'', and ``National 
     Cemetery Administration'' accounts for fiscal year 2015 may 
     be transferred to or from the ``Information Technology 
     Systems'' account: 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 an approval is issued.
       Sec. 221.  Of the amounts made available to the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2015, in this Act or any 
     other Act, under the ``Medical Facilities'' account for 
     nonrecurring maintenance, not more than 20 percent of the 
     funds made available shall be obligated during the last 2 
     months of that fiscal year: Provided, That the Secretary may 
     waive this requirement after providing written notice to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Sec. 222.  Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2015 for ``Medical 
     Services'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical 
     Facilities'', ``Construction, Minor Projects'', and 
     ``Information Technology Systems'', up to $252,366,000, 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. 3571) 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. 223.  Such sums as may be deposited to 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. 3571); 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).

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Sec. 224.  Of the amounts available in this title for 
     ``Medical Services'', ``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.

                    (including rescissions of funds)

       Sec. 225. (a) Of the funds appropriated in title II of 
     division J of Public Law 113-76, the following amounts which 
     become available on October 1, 2014, are hereby rescinded 
     from the following accounts in the amounts specified:
       (1) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Services'', 
     $1,400,000,000.

[[Page 6585]]

       (2) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Support and 
     Compliance'', $100,000,000.
       (3) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Facilities'', 
     $250,000,000.
       (b) In addition to amounts provided elsewhere in this Act, 
     an additional amount is appropriated to the following 
     accounts in the amounts specified to remain available until 
     September 30, 2016:
       (1) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Services'', 
     $1,400,000,000.
       (2) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Support and 
     Compliance'', $100,000,000.
       (3) ``Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Facilities'', 
     $250,000,000.
       Sec. 226.  The Secretary of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of both 
     Houses of Congress of all bid savings in major construction 
     projects 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. 227.  The scope of work for a project included in 
     ``Construction, Major Projects'' may not be increased above 
     the scope specified for that project in the original 
     justification data provided to the Congress as part of the 
     request for appropriations.
       Sec. 228.  The Secretary of the Department 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 $2,000,000.
       Sec. 229.  The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a reprogramming 
     request if at any point during fiscal year 2015, the funding 
     allocated for a medical care initiative identified in the 
     fiscal year 2015 expenditure plan is adjusted by more than 
     $25,000,000 from the allocation shown in the corresponding 
     congressional budget justification. Such a reprogramming 
     request may go forward only if the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress approve the request 
     or if a period of 14 days has elapsed.
       Sec. 230.  Of the funds provided to the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2015 for ``Medical 
     Services'' and ``Medical Support and Compliance'', a maximum 
     of $8,371,000 may be obligated from the ``Medical Services'' 
     account and a maximum of $114,703,000 may be obligated from 
     the ``Medical Support and Compliance'' account for the VistA 
     Evolution and electronic health record interoperability 
     projects: Provided, That funds in addition to these amounts 
     may be obligated for the VistA Evolution and electronic 
     health record interoperability projects upon written 
     notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
       Sec. 231.  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.

  Mr. CULBERSON (during the reading). Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous 
consent that the remainder of the bill through page 53, line 25, be 
considered as read, printed in the Record, and open to amendment at any 
point in order to expedite the process.
  The CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Sec. 232.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to award a contract to any contractor if the past 
     performance of the contractor resulted in the completion of a 
     construction project at a facility of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs more than 24 months after the original 
     agreed-upon completion date for the project.

                    (including rescission of funds)

       Sec. 233.  Of the unobligated balances available to the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs from prior year discretionary 
     appropriations (other than appropriations designated by law 
     as being for an emergency requirement) $38,000,000 are hereby 
     rescinded.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Terry

  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 54, after line 12, insert the following:

       Sec. 224.  None of the funds made available in this Act for 
     ``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental 
     Administration--General Administration'' for administrative 
     expenses of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may be 
     obligated or expended until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     meets with the Nebraska delegation to discuss alternative 
     options for the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital 
     planned for construction in Omaha, Nebraska.

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the 
gentleman's amendment.
  The CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
  The gentleman from Nebraska is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Chairman, I first want to thank my colleagues on the 
VA-MilCon Subcommittee--in particular, Mr. Fortenberry and Mr. 
Culberson and their staff--for their excellent work on this legislation 
in helping me facilitate this amendment and discussion.
  I also want to thank, of course, the committee staff, who has just 
been wonderful.

                              {time}  1545

  My amendment would require that no funds in this appropriations bill 
shall be used for the administrative expenses until the Secretary meets 
with the Nebraska delegation. The Secretary's calendar should never be 
so busy that he cannot meet with an entire delegation.
  Mr. Chairman, on June 6 of 2013--almost 11 months ago--our delegation 
asked for a meeting with Secretary Shinseki. When I say ``delegation,'' 
I mean all of the House Members and both Senators signed on to this 
letter, which I will submit for the Record.

                                Congress of the United States,

                                     Washington, DC, June 6, 2013.
     Hon. Eric K. Shinseki,
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Shinseki: We respectfully ask for a personal 
     meeting with you to discuss the current state of the Veterans 
     Affairs (VA) hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.
       We are pleased that Omaha is on the VA's construction list 
     and as such will someday have a new facility built. However, 
     as number 18 out of 20 on the VA's major construction 
     projects list, the reality seems to indicate that there is a 
     small chance a new facility will be built by the end of the 
     decade. As the condition of the current facility continues to 
     deteriorate and the new hospital's timeline continues to 
     slide, veterans in the Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care 
     System will be placed at risk of not receiving the proper 
     health care that they have come to know and deserve.
       The situation with the Omaha VA hospital is dire. The 
     management and staff are doing their best, but unforeseen 
     circumstances have provided obstacles to ensuring our 
     veterans receive quality care. For example, operating rooms 
     were closed in March 2013 due to failing humidifiers. Though 
     the situation is being addressed, we are concerned that the 
     aging facility will only continue to face operational 
     challenges and will continue to require significant 
     maintenance in order to keep it functioning until a new 
     facility can be built. Another major issue is the condition 
     of the boilers, air conditioners, and emergency generators. 
     Without replacement soon the Omaha VA Hospital could face 
     major shutdowns for complex and costly replacements of this 
     equipment.
       The veterans of Nebraska and western Iowa, who rely on this 
     declining facility, need to know that the VA has valid and 
     viable plans in place to continue the excellent care they 
     receive without avoidable interruptions or endangerment to 
     their health and welfare. We ask that you meet with us to 
     discuss these items so we, as the Nebraska delegation, can 
     communicate to and alleviate the concerns of our veteran 
     constituents.
       Several questions we would like to discuss with you 
     include:
       How does the VA establish funding priorities for 
     construction of new VA hospitals and whether or not the major 
     construction list will be re-evaluated based on the current 
     status of existing facilities?
       When is Omaha's facility reasonably expected to begin 
     physical construction?
       What is the VA's plan to fund unexpected and required 
     repairs to continue Omaha's operations until a new facility 
     is completed?
       What is preventing the VA from placing higher priority on 
     seriously degrading facilities such as the Omaha VA hospital?
       What are other possible solutions/options for a new 
     hospital and is the VA open to exploring these possibilities?
       Please let us know as soon as possible as to your 
     availability to meet in June. Time is of the essence. Please 
     ask your staff to coordinate with Katie Amacio, scheduler for 
     Senator Johanns, at kathleen_amacio@johanns
     .senate.gov. Ms. Amacio will coordinate with the rest of the 
     delegation.
       We look forward to working with you to best serve our 
     nation's cherished heroes, our veterans.
           Sincerely,
     Lee Terry,
       Member of Congress,
     Adrian Smith,
       Member of Congress,

[[Page 6586]]


     Jeff Fortenberry,
       Member of Congress,
     Mike Johanns,
       United States Senator,
     Deb Fischer,
       United States Senator.
                                  ____



                                Congress of the United States,

                                 Washington, DC, November 1, 2013.
     Hon. Eric K. Shinseki,
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Shinseki: On June 6, 2013, we wrote you a 
     letter requesting a meeting to discuss the Veterans Affairs 
     (VA) hospital in Omaha, Nebraska and to discuss options 
     regarding the current hospital situation, as well as a 
     timeline and options for the new facility. We would like to 
     meet with you as soon as possible to talk with you about our 
     concerns.
       We appreciate that your staff offered to meet with us. 
     However, the situation at our VA hospital is so grave that 
     this meeting requires your personal attention. As noted in 
     our letter of June 6th, the condition of the current facility 
     is problematic, while the new hospital's timeline continues 
     to slide. Veterans in the Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care 
     System may be placed at risk of not receiving the proper 
     health care that they have come to know and deserve if 
     something is not done very soon to rectify the current 
     situation.
       Our communications with your congressional affairs staff 
     have been numerous in the hopes that we could work to find a 
     mutually agreeable time to meet. It is now the beginning of 
     November and we are still anxiously awaiting the opportunity 
     to meet. In the meantime, our veterans continue to seek 
     treatment at a facility that has outlived its usefulness. 
     Given your longstanding service to our country, we know that 
     you share the goal of giving the best possible care to those 
     who have served our nation so bravely. We respectfully 
     request that a meeting be scheduled as early as possible.
       Please contact Congressman Terry's Chief of Staff, Mark 
     Anderson, to arrange a meeting. He can be reached via email 
     at Mark.A[email protected]. He will coordinate a date 
     and time for our meeting with you.
       We believe that you are as interested as we are in serving 
     those who deserve it most, our nation's veterans who depend 
     upon the Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. We know 
     that we can work together to solve the problems at the Omaha 
     facility and begin making the dreams of a new hospital a 
     reality.
       We look forward to hearing from your office in the coming 
     days.
           Sincerely,
     Lee Terry,
       Member of Congress,
     Jeff Fortenberry,
       Member of Congress,
     Adrian Smith,
       Member of Congress,
     Mike Johanns,
       United States Senate,
     Deb Fischer,
       United States Senate.

  Mr. TERRY. Now, the purpose of this inquiry was to discuss some 
health care alternatives for the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care 
System. Our hospital for 170,000 area veterans is in serious 
disrepair--boilers, HVAC, emergency generators. The very sewer and 
water pipes are literally duct-taped together. We have heard that it is 
the second worst hospital infrastructure in all of their hospital 
inventory. Even last March, the operating rooms had to be closed down 
due to failing humidifiers. We are talking about the basic functioning 
of this hospital that is out of date.
  Without replacement soon, the hospital could face additional major 
shutdowns for the complex and costly replacements of this 
infrastructure. Currently, we are on the list to be built somewhere 
around '18-'20, but the reality is, for years now, the list hasn't 
moved. Now our VA employees are being told that it will be somewhere in 
the 2021-2022 range. I fear it will be even later than that before the 
new inpatient tower can be built.
  Why do we need to talk to the general, or to Secretary Shinseki, 
about this hospital?
  It is that there are alternatives available in our community that we 
need to discuss with the decision maker.
  I will tell you that, even though we made the request in June of 
2013--as we head into May of 2014 now--they did get back to us in 
November of '13 when they said that we could meet with a low-level 
employee. So the entire delegation rewrote a letter in November, 
rejecting a meeting with the low-level employee. We need to meet with 
the Secretary, the decision maker, on these types of alternatives that 
would be available and that are, frankly, much cheaper than the $600 
million budgeted.
  The Secretary then did call back in December when the House was out 
of session and when the Senate was wrapping up, I think it was, the 
debt resolution issue for Friday, but even the Senators left on 
Wednesday. They at late notice scheduled a meeting, but that was when 
no one was here. We have made numerous requests for additional meetings 
to discuss these great options that would be available. Some of them 
would involve a leaseback type of provision by which people would put 
up the money, build the hospital, and then lease it back, reducing the 
burdens on the VA's budget, but we have no one to talk to. That is why 
I am saying let's hold back the administrative budget until the head of 
the administration for the VA meets with the Nebraska delegation on 
this really important safety and health issue for our veterans.
  I yield to my colleague, Jeff Fortenberry, from Lincoln, Nebraska.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. I thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Terry, 
for his steadfast commitment in trying to find some creative resolution 
for this problem.
  Mr. Chairman, he is very right in outlining this timeline of 
frustrations that we have had in dealing with the VA and in simply 
trying to get a hearing to discuss innovative ideas that are 
potentially out there to resolve this very difficult situation that we 
have in giving veterans the highest service that they deserve.
  I did want to mention to my colleague and thank Chairman Culberson as 
well for working with me on getting some language in the current bill 
that, hopefully, gets us out of this dilemma and reframes it.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. McClintock). The time of the gentleman has 
expired.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Nebraska is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to read the language that 
is in this bill.
  It reads:

       Alternative Financing:
       The committee is concerned about meeting the need for 
     access to high-quality veterans' health care facilities, 
     including in rural areas where access to facilities, 
     including clinics and hospitals, is more limited. The 
     committee directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to work 
     collaboratively with other executive branch agencies with 
     substantial construction portfolios, private sector 
     contractors and other nongovernmental experts, together with 
     the appropriate congressional committees, to explore the 
     feasibility of employing new funding mechanisms to meet the 
     need for such facilities, including but not limited to 
     private development leaseback arrangements, and to provide a 
     report on their conclusions to the committee no later than 
     September 30 of this year.

  So it is right around the corner. We did not want this to linger any 
longer.
  A bit of a new development I should bring up as well is that the VA 
Secretary did appear before our committee. I laid out some of these 
concerns. He appeared to be open to new ideas and suggestions, but we 
wanted to fortify this by putting this language in the underlying bill. 
Hopefully, this gets us some resolution quickly. If we don't resolve 
this, there is something called ``opportunity cost.'' Veterans who 
deserve the highest quality care may not be getting that care over the 
longer term when we could be doing something creative right now and 
innovative to build out, potentially, a new facility or rehab older 
ones to modern standards so that we can ensure they get the best and 
highest quality care. This puts us, hopefully, on a pathway to creating 
new and innovative ideas to simply move past the old way of doing 
things, which makes us wait and wait and wait for who knows how long.
  I want to thank my colleague for, again, bringing awareness to this 
issue.
  Mr. TERRY. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. I yield to the gentleman from Nebraska.
  Mr. TERRY. Thank you, Mr. Fortenberry.
  I think the language is innovative and absolutely necessary, and I 
compliment you on your perseverance on

[[Page 6587]]

this issue as well and on the insertion of this language into the bill.
  Mr. Chairman, the lend-lease or the leaseback provisions could be 
helpful. There are at least two community options that, I think, are 
highly credible options. One of them would be a leaseback type of 
option. The VA does that on clinics, but they refuse to do it on 
hospitals.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. And, by the way, on housing. As the Secretary 
pointed out, the VA does this on housing as well.
  Mr. Chairman, there are creative options out there that do not give 
the government a longer term budgetary risk, but they nonetheless help 
us move past a process that seems to be very stuck--simply putting 
money under the mattress until we finally get enough someday way into 
the future when we can get the veterans the services that they need.
  Mr. TERRY. The Secretary mentioned he was open to the language that 
you have inserted, which is a great step forward. Was he open to 
actually meeting with the delegation on the options that our community 
is putting forward?
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. We discussed not necessarily the specific language. 
We, in working with the committee, came up with this. Again, I want to 
thank Chairman Culberson for his leadership in helping craft this. The 
Secretary expressed a general openness toward creative thinking about 
alternative models that are already being deployed, as you rightly 
recognized, in clinics as well as in veterans' housing. I did not raise 
the issue about meeting with us, but hopefully, again, this 
conversation and this language will help further that cause.
  Mr. TERRY. I am intending, Mr. Chairman, to withdraw this amendment 
at the end of the gentleman's 5 minutes; but I do want to encourage 
General, Secretary Shinseki to actually sit down and listen to these 
options. We are not there to berate him or the VA but to simply say 
that our community is serious about finding solutions in working with 
the VA, and Mr. Fortenberry has now inserted language that would 
encourage that.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Again, I want to thank my colleague, Lee Terry, for 
his steadfast commitment to this important issue.
  Mr. Chairman, I think we should all be on the same page. Everybody 
shares the general goal and mission as to how to get this new hospital 
potentially in a much better situation either with a new facility or 
with something that is rehabilitated to modern standards. We have got 
some innovative ways to do this.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Terry) withdraws his amendment.
  There was no objection.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. LaMalfa

  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Page 54, after line 12, insert the following:
       Sec. __.  If Department of Veterans Affairs casework is 
     brokered out to another office of the Department from its 
     original submission site, a caseworker in a congressional 
     office may contact the brokered office to receive an update 
     on the constituent's case, and that office of the Department 
     is required to update the congressional staffer regardless of 
     their thoughts on jurisdiction.

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the 
gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved on the amendment.
  The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LaMALFA. I appreciate Chairman Culberson for allowing the time 
here today on this important topic.
  Mr. Chairman, the VA continues to broker cases as a means to lessen 
the backlog that many Members are clamoring about. This amendment I am 
offering with my colleague, Mr. Huffman, who wished to speak today, is 
very important to both of us and to many of my other colleagues.
  When a case is brokered out of the Oakland VA office to the San Diego 
VA office, for example, San Diego will tell my staff that they are not 
allowed to update them on the status of a case because it is not in San 
Diego's jurisdiction to do so, they basically claim. We know there are 
no VA rules in law that state that caseworkers cannot be updated on a 
veteran's case.
  This amendment simply states, if a congressional office is looking 
for an update on a veteran's case that has been brokered to another VA 
office, that the staff will be given a status update with no 
jurisdictional concerns.
  As Members, we serve our constituents. It is a reasonable request 
that caseworkers in our offices should be allowed to receive an update 
on a case regardless of where that case has been sent so that this VA 
backlog can be solved. Our veterans should not suffer because of this 
backlog. This issue of jurisdiction needs to be clear to all VA 
facilities across the U.S. so that our veterans are getting the answers 
they need through our casework staff. If we are going to continue to 
broker cases, then the brokered office must be communicating with our 
staff members, who are trying to get the answers that they need to the 
veterans.
  Mr. Chairman, at this time, I would like to yield to my colleague 
from California (Mr. Garamendi).
  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Chairman, let's see. There are 435 of us in this 
House and maybe another 100 over on the other side, give or take a few 
who may be retiring or who are on their way to other jobs. Each and 
every one of us has constituents come to us, seeking help and seeking 
our assistance in solving a problem. It is our work. That is what a 
Representative is. We represent the people in our districts, and we 
help solve their problems.
  The veterans have a very special place in our offices, in my own 
notion of what I am supposed to do as a Representative. I know they 
have in Mr. LaMalfa's and, quite probably, in the offices of every 
other Member of this House. We have over 130 active cases with veterans 
in our districts, working through the problems that they have with the 
Veterans Administration. I must tell you that one thing that sets me 
off is when my staff tells me that we are not able to contact the 
Veterans Administration because they have sent the case to another 
office and that that office won't respond to us.

                              {time}  1600

  We talked about this amongst ourselves, Mr. LaMalfa and I and other 
Representatives in our area, and, frankly, we have had enough. We are 
the legislature of the United States Government. And the Veterans 
Administration has a task, and they had better be responsible and 
responsive to veterans and to those who represent veterans, namely the 
435 Members of this House. It is part of our job.
  When the Veterans Administration office in some far-off land or 
county or other State has been given a file from our district to handle 
and to work through because of an overload in our area and then they 
don't respond to us, then they get this piece of legislation.
  Mr. LaMalfa, thank you very much. This ought to become law, 
notwithstanding the objection. We thank you for carrying this bill. 
Let's make this part of a law, and let's make this organization 
responsive to us and to our constituents.
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate my colleagues. This has been 
a bipartisan effort on a lot of VA issues here today we are seeing, 
which is a really good sign.
  Mr. Chairman, thank you for allowing me some time to speak on this 
subject. I will be withdrawing this amendment at this time, but we will 
be following up on this issue via other means soon, because it is very 
key that we have the ability as the elected officials and our staff to 
communicate fully with all aspects of the VA, especially since there 
is, as I mentioned earlier, no law or no rule stating that we cannot 
have this but more, maybe, roadblocks put in place by certain staff.
  Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment at this 
time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
from California?

[[Page 6588]]

  There was no objection.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Nevada is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. TITUS. As the ranking member of the Disability Assistance 
Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the Veterans' Affairs authorizing 
committee, I rise today in support of this appropriations bill, and I 
thank the chairman and the ranking member for the hard work that they 
put into this bill.
  One of the main reasons that I support it is because it furthers our 
goal of eliminating the VA benefits backlog, which is an issue our 
committee has worked on daily for the last year and a half. One of my 
top priorities is ensuring that our Nation's heroes receive all the 
benefits they have earned in a timely fashion.
  While I support this bill, I would like to take just a minute or two 
to raise an issue that is troubling to me and hope to bring it to the 
attention of the other Members of the House.
  I know many of my colleagues will be deeply saddened to learn that 
some veterans and their families across the country are being denied 
the benefits that they earned while serving our Nation. A recent 
example of this discrimination against some of our Nation's veterans 
was highlighted in a report by CBS News just last week.
  Seventy-four-year-old Madelynn Taylor of Boise, Idaho, proudly served 
her country in the United States Navy for 6 years. She lost her spouse 
in 2012 and soon after began the task of making arrangements to ensure 
that the two of them would be together in death just as they were in 
life. Being a veteran, Madelynn had the right to be interred at a State 
or national veterans cemetery. Since the closest national cemetery to 
Boise was nearly 8 hours away in western Oregon, Madelynn decided to 
inquire about a joint spot and memorial wall with her and her spouse's 
ashes to lay in rest together, just as hundreds of other couples have 
done, at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in her hometown of Boise.
  The Idaho State Veterans Cemetery was opened a decade ago with 100 
percent of the funding for the design, construction, and equipment 
costs coming from a Federal grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs' State Cemetery Grants Program, and the cemetery continues to 
receive Federal funding for operations.
  When Madelynn brought the necessary paperwork, including her 
discharge papers and marriage certificate, she was told that she and 
her spouse would not be allowed to be buried together.
  Why, you ask, was she denied this right? The answer is that Madelynn 
is a lesbian. Idaho State law does not recognize the legality of a 
marriage between Madelynn and her wife, Jean, and therefore is denying 
the couple the honor and dignity earned through Madelynn's service as a 
member of the United States Navy.
  Madelynn said this of her situation:

       I just feel that it's the right place for me. I am a 
     veteran, so they should let me . . . in fact, they would let 
     me alone be in that crypt, but I don't want to be alone. I 
     want Jean with me.

  We rightfully elevate our veterans and their families because of 
their service and sacrifice, yet today some veterans across the country 
face discrimination by the States and the Federal Government they 
sought to defend. No veteran or their family should be treated as 
second-class citizens.
  Nearly a year after the landmark Supreme Court decision to strike 
down the Defense of Marriage Act, which effectively extended Federal 
benefits to legally married couples, we see the Nation's gay and 
lesbian veterans face obstacles accessing the benefits that they have 
earned and rightfully deserve.
  While in uniform, our LGBT soldiers have access to the full 
complement of benefits available to members of the armed services. The 
second they transition out of the military, they are forced to leave 
these benefits behind.
  I have introduced legislation to end this disservice, and I invite my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this important effort.
  Mr. Chairman, today we debate legislation to fund the critical work 
of the VA and the earned benefits of our Nation's heroes and their 
families. My hope is that this body will give equal attention to all 
our veterans and their families and end the discrimination they 
experience when seeking benefits, including the right to be buried with 
their legally married, same-sex spouses.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word in order to 
engage in a colloquy.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Carolina is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Chairman, we are all aware of the tragic backlog that 
deeply affects so many of our Nation's heroes all across this country, 
and particularly in my district back home in North Carolina. Fixing 
this issue needs to be one of the highest priorities of Congress and 
this administration. We owe it to our veterans, and I know that many of 
my colleagues agree that we owe them to do this.
  However, the solution is not necessarily to continually throw money 
at the problem. We have done that for years without the results we are 
looking for. The reality is the fiscal situation we find ourselves in 
today means that we can no longer afford to be so shortsighted in our 
approach.
  In order to reform the VA--or any other department, for that matter--
we need to have a clear understanding of what costs are associated with 
running their programs so we can evaluate their effectiveness and root 
out those that are wasteful, duplicitous, and are underperforming.
  Mr. Chairman, I know you have been a leader on this issue and have 
tried for years to get from the VA a clear breakdown of what their 
administrative costs are. Is that correct?
  Mr. CULBERSON. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HUDSON. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Yes, I have. It is an ongoing problem trying to get 
any of the agencies to tell you what their administrative costs are. It 
is extraordinarily important. I really appreciate you bringing it to 
our attention. We are going to continue to work on this with you and 
other Members to ensure that our constituents' hard-earned tax dollars 
are spent wisely.
  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for his hard work and 
commitment, and I share his frustration. I have had a very difficult 
time, as well, trying to understand how the VA deals with its overhead. 
In fact, I have got a story I just heard from a veteran in my district 
that is probably not unique.
  This gentleman went to the VA center in Winston-Salem for an appeals 
hearing. A veterans service officer, one of the very hardworking 
veterans service officers around the country, accompanied him to this 
meeting. He sat down with the VA employee, and he asked the employee: 
Do you have my file? I don't see it sitting on your desk. The employee 
said: Well, we computerized all the files, so I have got it all here in 
the computer. The veteran said: Well, just so I know where you are, 
which page are you looking at? Somewhat sheepishly, the VA employee 
said: Well, actually, I don't know how to access the files in the 
computer.
  It is outrageous. It got worse from there.
  They went forward with the hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, 
the employee turned off a tape recorder and popped out the cassette. 
The veteran said: Well, what do you do with that cassette? He said: 
Well, we send that to San Diego so they can transcribe it. In about 6 
weeks, we will get the transcription back and then we can start 
processing your claim.
  Mr. Chairman, this is not what we intended when we asked that we go 
to a computerized VA system, and it is outrageous that our veterans are 
having to see these kind of delays. I would just ask that you work with 
us to try to resolve this problem.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chair, if the gentleman will yield, I would point 
out I have a software application on here called Dragon Naturally 
Speaking. You

[[Page 6589]]

just talk into it and it transcribes it instantly. As we used to say, 
``Get with the nineties,'' get with the modern era and just download a 
few apps on the computers.
  We will bird-dog them relentlessly. That is absurd.
  Mr. HUDSON. It is absurd.
  I appreciate your commitment to this, the time you put into it. Our 
veterans deserve the best we can give them. They deserve to be treated 
with the highest respect, and they deserve to not have to wait these 
extraordinary amounts of time just to be heard.
  Mr. Chairman, I commit to working with you to continue to deal with 
this issue, to take care of our veterans not just in North Carolina's 
Eighth District, but around the country.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last 
word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of 
the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, and 
I will commend the chairman of the committee for his efforts on this.
  This legislation not only provides the necessary funding for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs' operation, but it also sets a clear 
priority of addressing the massive problems at hand at the VA. We have 
read the recent news article saying we are aware as a Congress of all 
the problems that we are seeing in the VA. For too long, the heroes 
that have served this country have been mistreated, overlooked, or 
flat-out ignored by the VA. When these brave men and women signed up to 
defend our Nation, they were promised to be taken care of when they 
returned home. However, today we see less than adequate care--doctor's 
visit wait times stretching months and, in some cases, years, and 
hundreds of thousands of backlog benefit cases.
  The incident the gentleman from North Carolina just talked about is 
prevalent all across this land in every congressional district, 
including mine. Mr. Chairman, when I talk to the veterans back home in 
my district, I hear loss of confidence in a government that promised to 
be there for them. I hear from war veterans who are just plain giving 
up on the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  The latest report on VA claims from April 28, 2014, shows there are 
almost 600,000 pending claims with over 300,000 considered backlogged 
that have been pending for over 125 days. Mr. Chairman, that is 125 
days without an answer or resolution that these veterans will never get 
back.
  Just in my office, we have seen a multitude of cases that demonstrate 
the current ongoing crisis at the VA. One Korean war veteran has been 
working with my office on a Decision Review Officer review for over 18 
months now. This is a decision process that was supposed to be quicker 
than a Board of Veterans' Appeal in Washington. After waiting for more 
than a year for a meeting before his appeal, he couldn't wait any 
longer and just asked for the decision to be with the information that 
was at hand. While he is still waiting for an answer, I am praying for 
a resolution for that veteran.
  We have seen other instances where we were able to send documentation 
on behalf of constituents to various Veterans Administration offices, 
for the very same offices to turn around months later and ask for the 
same information again. Is this any way to treat the men and women who 
sacrificed their lives to defend the very freedoms our country enjoys?
  Thankfully, this legislation we are considering today makes a stride 
in the right direction by concentrating efforts to end the current 
backlog; holding the VA offices accountable through office performance 
measurements, not just awarding bonuses for someone when the facilities 
are in need of some attention, we will say; and increasing medical 
services for veterans, and that is the most important part.
  This bill prioritizes the timely and accurate exchange of medical 
data, updating the VA health records system, and ensuring the system is 
operable with the Department of Defense.
  This is not a silver bullet, Mr. Chairman, and we still have a long 
way to go to get the VA clicking and ticking again, but I hope we can 
use that momentum to continue working towards fulfilling the promises 
made to our veterans and improving the lives of our Nation's heroes. 
They deserve it.
  May God bless our Nation's troops and veterans, and may God continue 
to bless the United States of America.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               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 
     $7,500 for official reception and representation expenses; 
     and insurance of official motor vehicles in foreign 
     countries, when required by law of such countries, 
     $75,000,000, to remain available until expended.

                 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, 
     $31,386,000: Provided, That $2,500,000 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 $1,000 for official 
     reception and representation expenses, $61,881,000, of which 
     not to exceed $7,000,000 shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2016. 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.

                      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, 
     $63,400,000, 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.

                        Administrative Provision

       Sec. 301.  Funds appropriated in this Act under the heading 
     ``Department of Defense--Civil, Cemeterial Expenses, Army'', 
     may be provided to Arlington County, Virginia, for the 
     relocation of the federally owned water main at Arlington 
     National Cemetery, making additional land available for 
     ground burials.

                                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.  No part of any funds appropriated in this Act 
     shall be used by an agency of the executive branch, other 
     than for normal and recognized executive-legislative 
     relationships, for publicity or propaganda purposes, and for 
     the preparation, distribution, or use of any kit, pamphlet, 
     booklet, publication,

[[Page 6590]]

     radio, television, or film presentation designed to support 
     or defeat legislation pending before Congress, except in 
     presentation to Congress itself.
       Sec. 404.  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. 405.  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. 406.  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. 407.  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. 408. (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 45 days.
       Sec. 409. (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. 410.  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. 411. (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.

                              {time}  1615


                  Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Moran

  Mr. MORAN. 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 60, beginning on line 10, strike section 411.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Virginia is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would strike section 411, 
which specifically restricts the Defense Department from transferring 
Guantanamo detainees to the United States.
  Striking section 411 would enable the U.S. military to be able to 
make the most responsible decisions on transferring the 77 detainees 
who have been cleared by our intelligence community and the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff to be able to go to their home countries and bring 
those not cleared for release to the United States to be charged, 
tried, and sentenced.
  The Obama administration has made some real progress on this issue 
over the last year, but it is still the case that Guantanamo is a 
rallying cry for extremists around the world, and until we transfer and 
try these detainees, there is no denying that Guantanamo is in fact 
hurting our national security.
  We need to reevaluate our response to the long-term threat of 
terrorism and realize that policies that mock the rule of law make it 
more likely, rather than less likely, that we will be attacked again.
  How can we expect Americans who are captured abroad to be accorded 
the right to be sentenced and brought to trial when we hold 154 
prisoners in Guantanamo without charge and without trial?
  Some of my colleagues are going to argue that detaining or trying 
suspected terrorists in the United States would endanger national 
security, but it is not the case. More than 400 defendants charged with 
crimes related to international terrorism have been successfully 
convicted in the United States since 9/11. That includes the Times 
Square bomber; the shoe bomber; and Zacarias Moussaoui, who was tried 
and convicted in my congressional district for his role in the 9/11 
attack.
  All of them are in our prisons here in the United States. Most 
Americans don't know that because there haven't been any security 
incidents. In fact, more than 300 individuals convicted of crimes 
related to international terrorism are currently incarcerated in 98 
Federal prisons within the United States, with no escapes and no 
attempts to free them.
  There are six Defense Department facilities less than half full where 
Guantanamo detainees could be held here in the United States.
  The current approach of military commissions has proven unworkable 
because many of these prisoners merit a trial, but they are not getting 
the kind of trial that can withstand scrutiny. In fact, the only two 
guilty verdicts these commissions issued were both overturned.
  Keeping Guantanamo open is expensive. We are currently spending $2.67 
million per detainee each year at Guantanamo, compared to $34,046 per 
inmate at a high security Federal prison here in the United States.
  This year alone, the Defense Department estimates that it will spend 
$443 million in operations and personnel costs to operate this 
detention facility.
  When we are facing the negative effects of sequestration, it just 
does not make sense to continue what is in effect a permanent scar on 
our judicial system.
  In conclusion, the political and legal expediency of the detention 
center at Guantanamo has not been worth the cost to America's 
reputation around the world, nor to the erosion of our own legal and 
ethical standards here at home.
  I support the President in his recent statements, and I encourage the 
Members of this body to support this amendment. It is the right thing 
to do morally, ethically, and legally.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's 
amendment.
  We have presented this piece of legislation to the House in a 
bipartisan fashion. We have got unanimous support for it. This is one 
of those areas where we have an honest but earnest philosophical 
disagreement.
  This is something my good friend from Virginia (Mr. Moran), has been 
pursuing over the years, but it is, again, something the constituents I 
represent, the folks of Texas, I know oppose the idea of giving 
constitutional rights to enemy soldiers captured on foreign 
battlefields, especially these cowardly terrorists who hide behind 
women and children and launch sneak attacks against our men and women 
in uniform.

[[Page 6591]]

  We have asked the Congressional Research Service to attempt to tell 
us when, if ever, constitutional rights have been granted to enemy 
soldiers captured on foreign battlefields. The Congressional Research 
Service tells us the only example they can find is Manuel Noriega, the 
dictator of Panama, who was captured during the Bush 41 administration 
and brought to trial in Florida.
  The individuals at Guantanamo Bay are the most dangerous, radical 
individuals that have been captured during the war on terror. These 
folks are extremely dangerous.
  Any evidence that has been gathered, for example, even if they were 
to be transferred to the United States and given a criminal trial under 
the Constitution, which I strenuously object to, but even if they were 
brought to the United States and put on trial, how would any of the 
evidence gathered against them in Guantanamo be used to convict them?
  So this presents unsurmountable problems and is a divisive issue that 
is going to cause a tremendous amount of disagreement among the Members 
of Congress on a bill that has enjoyed unanimous and enthusiastic 
support from everyone in this body to make sure that our veterans and 
our men and women in uniform are taken care of.
  It is essential that this amendment be defeated in order to make sure 
that enemy soldiers are not given the protections of the United States 
Constitution. It is fundamentally something I strenuously disagree 
with, as do my constituents, and I urge the Members of this House to 
reject this amendment. And I hope to also have the support of the 
people of Georgia in opposing this amendment as well.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this 
amendment.
  I believe we need to set the conditions for the closure of the 
detention facility at Guantanamo. It is in the United States' national 
security interest to do so.
  Guantanamo has become a rallying cry. It serves as a recruitment tool 
for terrorists and increases the will of our enemies to fight, while 
reducing the will of others to work with America.
  Part of the rationale for establishing Guantanamo in the first place 
was the misplaced idea that the facility would be beyond the law--a 
proposition that has been soundly rejected by the Supreme Court. As a 
result, continued operation of this facility creates the impression in 
the eyes of our allies and our enemies that the United States 
selectively observes the rule of law.
  There is no reason that we should impose on ourselves the legal and 
moral problems arising from the prospects of indefinite detentions at 
Guantanamo.
  Working through civil courts since
9/11, hundreds of individuals have been convicted of terrorism or 
terrorism-related offenses and are now serving long sentences in 
Federal prison. Not one single person has ever escaped custody.
  For these reasons, I believe that the time has come to take the 
actions needed to initiate closure of the detention facility at 
Guantanamo. I think this amendment sends that strong message.
  I support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New York is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Moran-Smith-Nadler 
amendment.
  We are told by some in the majority that enemy soldiers should not 
have constitutional rights. But, Mr. Chairman, a majority, concededly, 
of those at Guantanamo, were never involved in a hostile act against 
the United States, and 86 percent were turned in for bounties.
  We don't know whether these people are enemy soldiers. Some of them 
may be and some of them are probably not. And we don't know that they 
are terrorists.
  Those facts must be determined in a fair proceeding of some sort, but 
at Guantanamo there are no proceedings. They haven't managed to hold 
military trials. And we can't hold civilian trials there.
  So we are holding people for no purpose, with no proceedings, no 
hearings, no opportunity, for essentially forever.
  The time to close Guantanamo is now. Guantanamo is a stain on our 
national honor. Never mind all the foreign policy reasons why it is 
poisoning our relations with foreign countries and instigating 
terrorism against it. The fact is, it is wrong.
  We are holding 154 people at Guantanamo, 77 of whom have been cleared 
for release. That is to say, they have been found guilty of nothing, 
are thought to be guilty of nothing, and have been judged not to pose 
any danger. Nonetheless, they are not released.
  There is no reason and there is no right for us to hold them further. 
The others should be brought to the United States and tried for their 
offenses.
  Mr. Chairman, I wonder which of our colleagues does not believe in 
the American system of justice. I wonder which one of us does not trust 
our own American courts. I wonder who among us does not believe in the 
Bill of Rights, who does not believe in the right to counsel or that 
people should have an opportunity to have their guilt or innocence 
established in court.
  What we have at Guantanamo is a system that is an affront to those 
beliefs and to the United States.
  In the last decade, we have begun to let go of our freedoms bit by 
bit with each new executive order, each new court decision, and yes, 
each new act of Congress. We have begun giving away our rights to 
privacy, our right to our day in court when the government harms us, 
and with this legislation we are continuing down the path of destroying 
the right to be free from imprisonment without due process of law.
  Indeed, I wonder if some of the people in Guantanamo broke out of 
jail, inflicted injuries on American personnel in so doing, and were 
caught, how we would defend ourselves when they said, We were just 
victims of kidnapping. The United States Government kidnapped us, with 
no claim of right. We had every right to use force to escape an illegal 
kidnapping by a government acting, essentially, under no law.
  I want to commend the gentleman from Virginia and the gentleman from 
Washington for fighting to close the detention facility at Guantanamo.
  The language in this bill, without our amendment, prohibits moving 
any detainees into the United States and guarantees that we will 
continue holding people indefinitely--people who may not be terrorists, 
some of whom we may suspect to be terrorists, none of whom have had a 
day in court to prove they are or are not terrorists. We will continue 
to hold them indefinitely without charge, contrary to every tradition 
this country stands for, contrary to any notion of due process.
  Because of this momentous challenge to the founding principles of the 
United States that no person may be deprived of liberty without due 
process of law--and certainly may not be deprived of liberty 
indefinitely without due process of law--we must close the detention 
facility at Guantanamo now in order to restore our national honor. This 
will afford the detainees no additional constitutional rights. The 
Supreme Court has already ruled detainees at Guantanamo have the same 
constitutional rights as they would if they were brought here.
  We must close this facility, try these people or let them go, and 
restore our national honor. Support this amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Oregon is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, I have listened over the years to my good 
friend from Virginia, my friend from New York, and Mr. Smith from 
Washington advance this issue. I think maybe now is the time for us to 
address this, if only as a going-away present. Because this is the last 
time Mr. Moran is going to be able to offer this. Since he has decided 
to leave us for greener pastures someplace else, I

[[Page 6592]]

think it would be fitting for us to address this directly.

                              {time}  1630

  I have great respect for my dear friend from the State of Texas who 
talks about what the people he represents feel about this issue; and I, 
with all due respect, wonder if the conversations with his constituents 
in Texas were like the conversations I have with my constituents in 
Oregon, if people knew that we are spending eight times as much to 
incarcerate these people as if they were in other Federal facilities.
  The gentleman from Virginia talks about the space that is available 
now in terms of Federal facilities. Do people know that we have 
convicted hundreds of people suspected of terrorists acts and, under 
the provisions of the military tribunal, none? What do our constituents 
really want if they knew that fact?
  The sad truth is that Americans are at greater risk because of our 
reckless behavior failing to close this sad chapter. The vast majority 
of these people probably don't pose a risk, and they certainly wouldn't 
pose a risk incarcerated in our maximum security facilities in the 
United States.
  It is time to close this facility, to honor the rule of law. It 
strengthens our position internationally, it saves money, and it allows 
us to actually get some of these people who may be bad guys actually 
convicted.
  Military tribunal doesn't work. Our courts do.
  I hope that we will step up, do the right thing, approve this 
amendment, and give Mr. Moran a going-away present as he leaves 
Congress.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, 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 Virginia 
will be postponed.
  The Clerk will read.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Sec. 412.  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. 413.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to enter into a contract, memorandum of 
     understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant 
     to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any corporation 
     that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any 
     Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the 
     awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless the agency 
     has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and 
     has made a determination that this further action is not 
     necessary to protect the interests of the Government.
       Sec. 414.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to enter into a contract, memorandum of 
     understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant 
     to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any corporation 
     that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been 
     assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies 
     have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being 
     paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the 
     authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, where 
     the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax liability, 
     unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of 
     the corporation and has made a determination that this 
     further action is not necessary to protect the interests of 
     the Government.
       Sec. 415.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Department of Defense or the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs to lease or purchase new light duty vehicles 
     for any executive fleet, or for an agency's fleet inventory, 
     except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum--Federal 
     Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011.

                       spending reduction account

       Sec. 416.  The amount by which the applicable allocation of 
     new budget authority made by the Committee on Apppropriations 
     of the House of Representatives under section 302(b) of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974 exceeds the amount of 
     proposed new budget authority is $0.


                 Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Rothfus

  Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk printed as 
No. 1 in the Congressional Record.
  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 pay a 
     performance award under section 5384 of title 5, United 
     States Code.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to stand with our Nation's 
veterans and their families.
  This morning, I had an opportunity to honor and thank Sergeant George 
Thursby. Sergeant Thursby served in the Army Air Force during World War 
II and was held as a prisoner of war.
  Today, decades after his release, he finally received his long-
overdue recognition. You should have heard the rapturous applause he 
received from the families, servicemembers, and citizens.
  We owe veterans like Sergeant Thursby a debt of gratitude that can 
never be repaid. That is why I rise in strong support of the Military 
Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act under 
consideration today. It is also why this amendment I am offering today 
is so important.
  As public servants, employees of the VA have a solemn obligation to 
ensure that veterans receive the respect, support, and care they have 
earned and rightly expect.
  Unfortunately, the VA has failed veterans in western Pennsylvania and 
across the country. At least six veterans contracted Legionnaires' 
disease and died because of mismanagement, mistakes, and systemic 
failures at the Pittsburgh VA.
  William Nicklas, one of these veterans, was a loving husband, father, 
and grandfather. Nicklas was known for his practical jokes, his love of 
sports, and being the first and last person on the dance floor.
  He started an auto body shop when he returned to civilian life and 
helped two of his sons begin their own business as contractors. More 
than anything, he was uncommonly dedicated to his family, his fellow 
servicemembers, veterans, and his country.
  A proud and loyal veteran from Hampton Township in Pennsylvania's 
12th District, Mr. Nicklas was a tail gunner in the Navy air-sea rescue 
force during World War II. Mr. Nicklas survived Guam, Saipan, and 
Okinawa, but fell victim to Legionnaires' disease in Pittsburgh.
  Over the last year, I have worked with my colleagues to find answers 
and demand accountability for the families of Bill Nicklas, John 
Ciarolla, Clark Compston, John McChesney, Lloyd Wanstreet, and Frank 
``Sonny'' Calcagno.
  John Ciarolla, the first of these veterans to fall to Legionnaires' 
disease, died in July 2011. Bill Nicklas, the last, died in November 
2012. It has been almost 1\1/2\ years since Mr. Nicklas died and almost 
3 years since Mr. Ciarolla died.
  Where is the accountability? Where is the transparency?
  My colleagues and I have asked VA Secretary Shinseki and Under 
Secretary for Health Petzel what actions they will take to hold 
accountable those responsible for these deaths. Officials at the VA owe 
the families answers, but they have provided none.
  Even more outrageous, the regional director responsible for leading 
the Pittsburgh VA at the time of these deaths--he is now retired--was 
awarded and accepted the government's highest award for civil servants 
and a $63,000 bonus only 3 days after the inspector general found that 
systemic failures resulted in these deaths.
  Across the Nation, the VA has demonstrated a widespread and systemic 
lack of accountability, according to a recent investigation by the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee. This has manifested itself in not just 
infectious disease outbreaks and preventable deaths, but also in 
wasteful spending and backlogged disability claims.
  I thank the Veterans' Affairs Committee and Chairman Jeff Miller for 
their tremendous work fighting for our

[[Page 6593]]

Nation's veterans and promoting accountability and transparency at the 
VA.
  Paying bonuses to senior executives of an organization with an 
abysmal performance record is ridiculous; yet the VA gave its senior 
executives bonuses totaling $2.8 million in 2011 and $2.3 million in 
2012. These valuable resources should be used to ensure that our 
veterans receive the first-rate service and care they rightly deserve.
  VA executives need to take responsibility, fix the problems, and do 
their jobs. Last year, I offered an amendment directing that none of 
the funds appropriated may be used to pay for senior executive bonuses. 
The amendment was adopted by voice vote and was included in last year's 
MilCon-VA bill, which passed the House by a vote of 421-4.
  The Senate did not consider a MilCon bill last year, and the measure 
was not included in the omnibus. Unfortunately, 1 year has passed, and 
this measure is still needed.
  I thank Chairman Miller and Congressmen Gosar, Olson, Benishek, 
McKinley, Tipton, Huelskamp, Crawford, Kelly, Lance, Collins, LaMalfa, 
Goodlatte, and Meadows for their support of our Nation's veterans and 
this amendment.
  I urge my other colleagues to stand with our Nation's veterans and 
support increased transparency and accountability at the VA by voting 
``yea'' on this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. 
Many Members have also requested language that would ban performance 
bonuses for senior-level executives at the VA in response to the 
concerns Mr. Rothfus has just mentioned.
  I join him in grieving for those veterans who lost their lives as a 
result of the Legionnaires' disease outbreak. My heart goes out to them 
and their families.
  The authorizing committees have, indeed, as Mr. Rothfus says, taken 
action on this issue. The GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act of 2013 that 
passed in February contains a 5-year ban on performance bonuses for VA 
Senior Executive Service employees.
  In February, the Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee 
introduced legislation that would give the VA Secretary complete 
authority to fire or demote Veterans Affairs senior executive employees 
based on performance. That is a sorely needed performance tool that the 
VA Secretary, I know, will use.
  Mr. Chairman, we have also included language in our report 
reiterating that the Secretary of the VA already has all the authority 
they need to reward employees for good performance and withhold rewards 
for poor performance, just like the private sector.
  That is a question I specifically asked during our hearing with the 
VA Secretary, and we have established that from the Secretary's own 
testimony, reaffirmed that in our bill itself.
  The Secretary demonstrated his commitment to linking awards to 
performance when he withheld awards for everyone in the Veterans 
Benefit Administration last year because the claims backlog targets 
have not been met.
  This is, I believe, an important amendment. I support it and urge the 
Members of the House to support it to send a clear signal to the VA 
that the Members of the United States Congress are unhappy with their 
performance, and they need to step it up.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, we are all outraged in regards 
to the claims backlog and the incidences of poor quality health 
services and safety. The current claims backlog is, indeed, 
unacceptable.
  There is no question that the VA has struggled to successfully 
deliver one of its key missions: to provide timely ratings of 
disability. However, the VA has reduced the backlog by 44 percent. 
Should we ignore that?
  It is also clear that some VA health facilities have had serious 
issues that put the health, safety, and well-being of our veterans at 
risk. This too is unacceptable. Where have these failures occurred?
  It is hard to imagine how the VA leaders of these facilities could 
have received high performance ratings and substantial bonuses.
  However, this amendment will not provide any solution in the short 
term and, in fact, may have the long-term consequences and compound the 
very problems that it attempts to address.
  This amendment would make the VA a less attractive option than other 
agencies when it comes to recruiting and retaining quality executive 
leaders, and it will not have the very talent it needs to solve the 
problems it faces today, like the claims backlog and the health care 
deficiencies.
  Furthermore, SES pay and bonuses are governed by title 5 of the 
United States Code and administered by the Office of Personnel 
Management. Any change to title 5 to address the VA would then also 
apply to all other Federal agencies.
  Attempting an across-the-board, one-size-fits-all fix will penalize 
those who are dedicated VA executives who are working hard and doing a 
good job to find solutions to the VA problems.
  I urge all Members to vote ``no'' on this amendment. We are throwing 
out the baby with the bathwater. This is not a good amendment, and I 
urge this House to defeat it.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment.
  I would first like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Rothfus) for offering this amendment. Our offices have worked closely 
on this issue.
  To reiterate, this amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans 
Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is a simple one. 
Senior leadership at the VA has repeatedly failed the very veterans 
they are meant to support.
  Initial responses for benefit claims hover close to a year in many 
cases, with appeals responses taking significantly longer. In too many 
instances, these matters even require Congressional intervention.
  My staff, though happy to do so, has far too many cases open on 
behalf of the veterans trying to receive their earned benefits with the 
Veterans Administration.
  With so many of our veterans being let down by their government, 
those in charge of the administration of benefits should not be 
rewarded. This should be common sense.
  I would also like to take a quick moment to thank Congressman Jeff 
Miller, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, for 
introducing similar legislation that would allow the Secretary of the 
VA to fire senior executives or cut their pay for lack of performance.
  There are many Members on both sides of the aisle interested in 
shaking things up at the VA. I suggest we start here today by adopting 
these relevant amendments that will hold these government employees 
accountable.
  Again, I urge passage of this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment 
introduced my friend, Mr. Rothfus, to deny bonuses to members of the VA 
Senior Executive Service.
  Bonuses are paid for a job well done, but at the VA, the job is very 
clearly not getting done. The tragic story out of Phoenix is only the 
latest example.

[[Page 6594]]



                              {time}  1645

  As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and a doctor who 
served at the Iron Mountain VA for 20 years, I have watched in disgust 
as the stories keep rolling in. Pittsburgh; Atlanta; Memphis; Colombia, 
South Carolina; and Augusta, Georgia, have all seen preventable veteran 
deaths linked to severe mismanagement. Make no mistake, these are not 
isolated incidents. This is a national crisis, and it must be treated 
with the significance it deserves.
  We can keep dragging VA leaders in front of the committee, but I, for 
one, am sick and tired of hearing their excuses. We are well past the 
time when explanations and apologies would be enough. It is time to 
hold the people that have repeatedly and egregiously failed our 
veterans accountable for their actions.
  This amendment is a good, commonsense first step, and I am proud to 
support it. However, it alone is not enough. The problem goes deeper 
than the Senior Executive Service, and our veterans are demanding real 
accountability. That is why I have introduced the Demanding 
Accountability for Veterans Act, to provide a permanent solution to 
getting the VA to provide the care our veterans need. I am pleased this 
bill was passed unanimously by the VA Committee, and I look forward to 
its consideration on the floor. We can't wait any longer to make the 
essential changes to the VA that our veterans deserve.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MORAN. I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Virginia is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Chairman, the amendment before us reflects the 
concerns that Congress has had over senior executives at the Department 
of Veterans Affairs receiving performance bonuses when VA hospital 
standards were not up to par and when we continue to see a backlog of 
disability claims.
  I share those concerns that VA truly does need to tackle. But recent 
actions taken by this Congress through the good work of the MilCon 
Appropriations Subcommittee and the Veterans Administration have, in 
fact, improved the operational efficiency of those hospitals and 
reduced the backlog.
  The VA has also instituted much greater transparency in the process 
of awarding bonuses for its Senior Executive Service. In fact, VA has 
centralized senior executive award decisions. They have added an 
additional level of review in consideration of those awards. And the VA 
has significantly reduced the value of those awards compared to prior 
years. Most importantly, the Secretary has already demonstrated his 
willingness to use the bonus system as a way to reward and penalize 
staff based on their performance. As it stands, the Secretary has all 
the authority he needs to use bonuses to influence performance.
  I think this amendment is something of a political ploy, Mr. 
Chairman. It is designed to misdirect our frustrations to the good men 
and women who have chosen to serve their government in the civilian 
workforce. I take serious issue with this very popular practice of 
continuing to punish a workforce that is predominantly composed of 
hardworking Federal servants that have already suffered a 
disproportionate amount.
  If we want to retain the individuals that make up what is, in fact, 
the best large Federal civil service in the world, we need to change 
this culture very quickly. After 3 years of pay freezes, pension cuts, 
pay cuts, and furloughs, our Senior Executive Service, which is largely 
composed of the best of the best in the Federal workforce, has, at the 
very least, earned these bonuses.
  The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that Federal employees 
in highly skilled professions could be earning much more in the private 
sector. Why do they choose public service? Not for monetary gain but 
for love of country and the opportunity to make people's lives better, 
particularly our veterans. But they have families to feed and mortgages 
to pay and children to send to college. Where does it end?
  No matter how many times this House majority says the government 
can't solve problems, can't create jobs, can't help the American 
people, it will never be the case. The fact is this government does 
help the American people. We should be proud of our government, not 
punish our civil servants. And the fact is that you can find far more 
veterans who are appreciative of the good work that the people in the 
Veterans Administration do than those who disparage it.
  So I would urge rejection of this amendment and yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. LaMALFA. I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today as a cosponsor of the 
amendment offered by my friend from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus). I 
appreciate his effort on that.
  It is hard to believe what I am here hearing in here today. When you 
look at the backlog, when you look at how veterans are being treated in 
this country, in northern California, it is amazing that we are on 
complete different wavelengths here.
  The lack of accountability and transparency within the VA is nothing 
short of shameful. Yet again and again I have heard from many veterans 
in the north State concerned about the timeliness and the frustrating 
claims process at VA facilities in California, namely, the Oakland 
office, which is one of the slowest regional offices in the Nation. 
Despite past promises from the VA to improve the backlog, service to 
our veterans has continued to deteriorate. This negligence and 
mismanagement is completely unacceptable.
  When veterans are being denied access to the care and services they 
rightly deserve and expect, reform is necessary, certainly not bonuses 
to senior executives. When a program funded by taxpayers is failing to 
provide the level of services expected, accountability, not 
compensation, should be demanded.
  Rewarding incompetency not only exacerbates the most pressing issues 
within the VA, but also serves as an insult to the men and women who 
have given so much for our country, as well as the very many good 
caseworkers on the VA staff who see no bonus but yet still try to do 
their jobs underneath that regime.
  This amendment is about fairness and doing what is right by 
fulfilling the promise to our veterans. It ensures our veterans receive 
the benefits and services they were promised and restores 
accountability within the VA to make certain taxpayer money is 
rightfully spent, fixing the backlog and incompetency that is harming 
our veterans' health and insulting them, as well as the American 
taxpayer.
  This amendment isn't about throwing the baby out with the bathwater. 
This is about throwing the bonuses out with the bathwater.
  I applaud Congressman Rothfus for his leadership in standing up for 
our Nation's veterans. I urge my colleagues to support this important 
measure.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUELSKAMP. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Kansas is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. HUELSKAMP. Mr. Chairman, I am glad to join my colleague from 
Pennsylvania in cosponsoring this important amendment. But I must 
admit, it is regrettable--actually, no. It is actually shameful we 
actually have to be here today discussing this topic.
  As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have heard 
over and over and over again stories of abuse, neglect, and 
mismanagement within the VA, but the one thing I never hear about is 
accountability. In fact, under the leadership of the current Secretary, 
a Senior Executive Service employee who has presided over mismanagement 
at the VA is more likely to receive a sizable bonus than to be 
disciplined or fired.
  This culture of anything goes has got to stop, and the best way to 
stop this is to send a strong signal across the Department of VA that 
Congress means

[[Page 6595]]

business. It is obvious from the headlines about the sizable bonuses 
received by VA administrators at facilities in Georgia, South Carolina, 
Pittsburgh, and Phoenix that the performance award system at the VA is 
a failure.
  I have asked the VA in congressional hearing after hearing after 
hearing for a specific list of disciplinary actions that the Department 
has imposed on employees and executives who have presided over these 
delays and preventable veteran deaths. Instead of giving answers, they 
have only pointed to retirements, transfers, or bureaucratic slaps on 
the wrist, but not a single undeserved performance bonus has been 
returned to the taxpayers. These smokescreen attempts to create the 
appearance of accountability are unacceptable.
  Unfortunately, the story last week from Phoenix is not an isolated 
event. Just 3 weeks ago, in our committee, the VA admitted to another 
23 preventable deaths occurring within their facilities. The senior VA 
bureaucrats responsible for the management of the facilities 
consistently received sizable bonuses from hardworking taxpayers. These 
administrators have been given a sacred trust to care for and serve our 
Nation's veterans. And, quite frankly, Mr. Chairman, they have broken 
that trust; and its time for accountability.
  For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, to 
defund these VA bonuses, and to return some accountability to the VA.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to appeal to those 
on both sides of the aisle to hold the executives in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs accountable.
  I think what has been interesting in what we have heard a little bit 
is really a tale of not the two cities, as Dickens would have it, but a 
tale of two opinions. And one opinion is the preponderance of evidence 
we see in our district offices and our Washington offices of problems 
in the VA; and then on the other side, it is basically a, yes, it is 
bad, but let's still do business the same way. And I think that is 
where the American people get frustrated.
  I believe by now, everyone is already aware of the lapse in ethical 
and moral judgment in many of these areas, from Atlanta and South 
Carolina, others, but also at the Phoenix veterans hospital. You know, 
the decision there to cook the books that denied care to needy veterans 
is simply unconscionable. That fact alone should anger every Member of 
this body, and it certainly angers the 62,000 veterans and their family 
members in the Ninth District of Georgia.
  Sadly, though, it doesn't end there. One has to question our civil 
service compensation system. The executive at the Phoenix VA facility 
there received a $170,000 salary plus $9,000 in bonuses. For what? 
Saving taxpayer money? Mr. Chairman, $9,000 is unbelievable. We 
rewarded an executive who, in reality, was failing our fellow 
Americans.
  As a member of the United States Air Force Reserve, we instill in our 
members the universal core value of ``integrity first.'' In the case of 
the hospitals in the VA system, some put getting accolades over 
integrity. This angers me, and I will not tolerate this kind of 
behavior in our government.
  The vast majority of Americans and the vast majority of the VA 
employees work sacrificially and for their fellow Americans--the vast 
number of them. Except for a select few, those at the Veterans 
Administration have answered a call to provide care and compensation to 
those that gave the most of themselves and for our country. To them, I 
want to pass along a sincere thank-you. It is disheartening that your 
reputation could be tarnished by association of the few at the top of 
your organization.
  This scandal is really two problems: One is the outrageous use of 
secret lists to manage care so a few could thicken their wallets; the 
other is how we awarded bonuses to senior executives. These individuals 
wouldn't have received bonuses if we had known the metrics on patient 
appointments were exaggerated. They apparently didn't think of the 
consequences of their actions. And I would like to think the issue was 
isolated to certain areas, but my fear is that this may be a systematic 
problem, a problem that needs to be corrected immediately.
  I want to applaud Chairman Miller's efforts to investigate the 
potential secret lists at all VA hospitals.
  Honorably discharged veterans don't earn the label ``honorable'' by 
doing what is right some of the time; they earn it by doing what is 
right all the time. Should we allow the hospital administrators to 
receive bonuses for doing what is right only some of the time?
  We have an opportunity here to demonstrate that the U.S. Congress is 
good stewards of taxpayer money, and unethical and un-American behavior 
in our government will not be condoned. On behalf of the veterans that 
I proudly represent, I support the chairman's investigation, I support 
Mr. Rothfus' amendment, and I support the underlying appropriations 
measure here so that these things will not happen again.
  In looking at this, it was stated just a few moments ago on the 
floor, it was insinuated on this floor that this was a political ploy. 
I don't think it is a political ploy to do what is right. I don't think 
it is a political ploy to take care of those who took care of us. And 
if that is where this debate has really taken center on--and I will say 
for a fact, as I said just a moment ago, that the vast majority of VA 
employees do a great job with what they are working with, but they are 
being betrayed at the top, and it is not time to award these kinds of 
behaviors with taxpayer dollars.
  This is what we are here for, not a political ploy, but to do what 
the Congress is supposed to do, and that is to keep our money going 
where it is supposed to go in order to provide the benefits that these 
veterans deserve.
  With that, I will support the amendment, I support the underlying 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Ohio is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Rothfus 
amendment, of which I am a cosponsor.
  I want to thank Representative Rothfus for his leadership on this 
issue. I also want to recognize the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee for his leadership on legislation to ensure that no member of 
the Senior Executive Service can abuse their power and, in fact, that 
they will be held accountable and promoted and fired based on 
performance.
  Unfortunately, our Veterans Affairs has failed to take appropriate 
action to increase transparency and hold Senior Executive Service 
employees accountable for their actions and their performance. Recent 
critical reports by the VA inspector general and the GAO have shown 
that some VA executives have continued to receive praise in their 
performance reviews and collected generous cash bonuses up to $63,000. 
Let me be clear, though. Most VA employees are hardworking, dedicated 
public servants, but there are a few at the top who need to be held 
accountable.

                              {time}  1700

  The Veterans Affairs Department began the month of April proudly 
proclaiming success in reducing the stubborn backlog of disability 
claims, however, they improved that number by denying incomplete claims 
and creating a huge appeals backlog. The backlog is causing our 
veterans to be denied disability compensation and access to health 
care, and we shouldn't allow these executives to take bonuses for false 
success. The VA is clearly not fulfilling its commitment to our 
veterans.
  This amendment is simple. It ensures that senior VA officials are 
held accountable for their performance and cannot be rewarded for false 
performance.
  In addition to our backlog problem, Congress passed in 2012 in the 
consolidated appropriations an amendment

[[Page 6596]]

that required the VA to share prescription information with State 
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. As many of my colleagues know, 
our veteran population is facing a huge epidemic of opioid addiction, 
and it is leading to a high number of our veterans committing suicide 
and overdosing.
  The VA finalized the rule in April, but it has not been fully 
implemented to share information with these Prescription Drug 
Monitoring Programs. We can't wait any longer for this program. 
Participation in Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs will ensure that 
our VA hospitals, civilian hospitals, and doctors no longer 
overprescribe opioids to our veterans. Not having this rule fully 
implemented and in use by our States is just another reason to prohibit 
performance benefits for our senior VA officials.
  I urge all Members to support this amendment and the entire Milcon-VA 
Appropriations bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of Mr. 
Rothfus' amendment to restrict funds from being used to pay for bonuses 
for all employees of the Senior Executive Service at the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  This amendment is consistent with Section 11 of my legislation, H.R. 
357, which passed the House earlier this year by a vote of 390-0. My 
bill would require a five year moratorium on bonuses for SES employees 
and I am glad to see that this amendment satisfies the intention of the 
first year of my legislation for FY 2015.
  Mr. Chair, over the past three years the Veterans' Committee has 
uncovered, and continues to uncover, numerous instances of gross 
negligence and incompetence by senior VA officials. Regrettably, some 
of these instances have resulted in preventable deaths, yet senior VA 
officials have continued to receive performance awards.
  The most recent stories from whistleblowers in Phoenix allege that 
over 40 veterans could have died due to delays in consult times and 
alleged secret wait lists. Yet the director received a bonus in 2013 of 
more than $9000.
  If these allegations are proven to be true, it only further shows 
what we have seen in other locations that when a senior executive fails 
they are more likely to receive a bonus than any type of meaningful 
punishment.
  It is well past time for VA leaders to realize that rewarding failure 
only breeds more failure, and that is why I believe this amendment and 
my legislation to end all bonuses for senior executives at VA is not 
only necessary, it is what our veterans and their families deserve.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.
  I rise today in support of my friend Mr. Rothfus's commonsense 
amendment to H.R. 4486. I also want to thank Chairman Culberson for his 
hard work on this legislation on behalf of our nation's veterans.
  This amendment would prohibit senior VA officials from collecting 
bonuses. According to several reports by the Inspector General at the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, there have been a series of tragic--and 
preventable--deaths at VA facilities across the country. The 
preventable deaths in the VA healthcare system have been attributed to 
mismanagement, improper oversight, and failure to schedule timely 
medical appointments, among other errors.
  Yet, despite the fact that more than 20 deaths have been attributed 
to mismanagement and lack of oversight, tens of thousands of dollars in 
bonuses were awarded to top level executives at the VA.
  This practice has been evident at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, 
where Inspector General reports highlighted widespread mismanagement, 
delays in care, and a lack of uniform and acceptable policies. At least 
three deaths--and possibly a fourth--have been attributed to this lack 
of oversight, including a suicidal patient who was supposed to be 
closely monitored by staff in the hospital's mental health ward but 
died of a drug overdose after staff members lost track of him for 
hours. Despite the fact that as many as four unexpected deaths were 
attributed to mismanagement and lack of oversight, thousands of dollars 
in bonuses were awarded to top level executives at the facility.
  At the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, thousands of 
patients sat on a backlogged list for endoscopy consultations after 
management failed to act in a timely manner to schedule appointments 
for checkups in the gastrointestinal clinic. These delays contributed 
to the deaths of three patients, who died waiting for care in what 
could otherwise have been a treatable illness. No one has been fired at 
this facility--to the contrary, VA refuses to say whether or not 
officials there are eligible for bonuses despite the deaths. Simply 
put, our veterans deserve better.
  It is past time that we stop rewarding people for simply showing up 
to work--bonuses should be the exception, not the norm. It should never 
be easier to get a bonus than to get fired, but that is what we have 
seen at the VA.
  Top officials at facilities from Atlanta to Pittsburgh have received 
``performance awards,'' even while veterans died. Veterans deserve to 
know that in return for serving their country, they will not be 
endangered in the very place they go to seek care. They deserve the 
peace of mind that would come from knowing that those responsible for 
the tragic deaths received more than a slap on the wrist one day and a 
bonus the next. Our veterans deserve to know that deaths in the system 
are taken seriously and met with consequences. It is incomprehensible 
that management officials could simultaneously be complicit in 
mismanagement that led to a preventable death and also rewarded with a 
hefty bonus.
  Furthermore, at a time when so many of our soldiers are returning 
from war, and in light of the deaths in Georgia and across the country, 
I believe the VA should prioritize veterans' health and well-being 
above all else.
  Mr. Chair, I believe we should reward our veterans with quality care 
and services in exchange for their commitment to our country and our 
freedoms. Money spent on executive bonuses would be better spent on 
ensuring our nation's men and women in uniform receive the best 
possible care when they come home.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in expressing support for our 
nation's veterans by supporting 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 Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).
  The amendment was agreed to.


               Amendment Offered by Mr. Murphy of Florida

  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following new section:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to maintain or improve Department of Defense real 
     property with a zero percent utilization rate according to 
     the Department's real property inventory database, except in 
     the case of maintenance of an historic property as required 
     by the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et 
     seq.) or in the case of maintenance to prevent a negative 
     environmental impact as required by the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer an 
amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 
Appropriations bill that would eliminate wasteful spending on unused 
facilities, which would save tens of millions of dollars for fiscal 
year 2015 alone.
  The Defense Department has hundreds, possibly thousands, of buildings 
and structures that it has rated at zero percent utilization. This is 
an incredible number of useless facilities the DOD is paying to 
maintain.
  Federal agencies, as a whole, must do a better job at managing their 
facilities. Taxpayers cannot continue paying for unused and underused 
buildings while the Nation is at record debt levels. That is not good 
government, and that is not smart spending.
  That is why I joined with Representatives David Joyce of Ohio and 
Mike Coffman of Colorado to introduce the SAVE Act to root out about 
$230 billion in wasteful and duplicative government spending over the 
next 10 years. This amendment is an extension of one of those 
commonsense solutions included in the bipartisan SAVE Act preventing 
the Department of Defense from spending money on facilities that the 
Department itself has rated at zero percent utilization.
  I offered the same amendment last year, which this Chamber accepted 
by voice vote, and I ask for your same support today.
  I understand the Department of Defense may be concerned that this

[[Page 6597]]

amendment would prevent them from carrying out BRAC work. I believe 
BRAC is an essential process, and I have no intention of disrupting it. 
After investigating the Department's concerns, my understanding is that 
no additional BRAC work will happen before 2017 at the earliest, long 
after this appropriations bill has expired. Any ongoing environmental 
remediation from previous BRACs is exempted from my amendment, which 
gives the Department the flexibility to properly address any 
environmental threats at unused facilities, as well as maintain 
historic military sites.
  With that said, I would welcome the opportunity to work with the 
committee to address any BRAC-related issues in conference.
  Mr. Chairman, we all agree that we must rein in wasteful government 
spending. My amendment is a commonsense solution to do just that, and I 
urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Is there further discussion on the amendment? 
Seeing none, the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Murphy).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Ross

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 Defense to close a commissary 
     store.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an important amendment 
to this year's Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 
Appropriations bill.
  My amendment would protect access to commissaries for our Active Duty 
servicemembers, our veterans, and their families. As a representative 
of a community with such a strong military presence, I have had the 
honor to be advised by a number of active veterans and military 
leaders. The requests have always been consistent. We must not balance 
our Nation's fiscal problems on the backs of our veterans and Active 
Duty personnel.
  Unfortunately, the Secretary of Defense released his fiscal year 2015 
budget request for the Department of Defense, which included the 
proposed closure of commissaries. Just last night, I held a town hall 
meeting, and a retired chief master sergeant, Richard Redhill, voiced 
his concern over the closure of commissaries. Now, look, there are 
already attempts out there to gut their health care by way of cutting 
TRICARE, and there are attempts out there to gut their cost-of-living 
adjustments. Let's at least leave their commissaries alone. Let us 
respect the obligations that we owe to those who raised their right 
hands to give the ultimate sacrifice of their life in the defense of 
this country.
  Our military is the most advanced and well trained the world has ever 
seen, not just because we are the best in technology and weapons 
systems, but also because of those men and women who volunteer to stand 
in defense of their country.
  I want to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop for 
their hard work on this important funding measure and hope that my 
colleagues will join me in adopting this important amendment.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Is there further discussion on the amendment? 
Seeing none, the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Ross).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Takano

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer amendment No. 3.
  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 in this Act for the All-Volunteer Force Educational 
     Assistance Program under chapter 30 of title 38, United 
     States Code, or the Post 9/11 Educational Assistance Program 
     under chapter 33 of such title may be used for career 
     education programs at proprietary institutions unless the 
     successful completion of the curriculum fully qualifies a 
     student--
       (1) to take an examination required for entry into an 
     occupation or profession, including satisfying all State-
     mandated programmatic and specialized accreditation 
     requirements; and
       (2) to be certified or licensed or to meet other 
     academically-related pre-conditions of employment in the 
     State in which the institution is located.

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order against the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
  The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, career education programs--programs of less 
than 2 years that are designed to prepare students for direct entry 
into a specific profession--too often fail our student veterans. Many 
of these programs at for-profit schools leave our student veterans with 
unsustainable debt and worthless credentials.
  My amendment would ensure that veterans' education benefits are only 
used for career education programs that qualify students to take an 
examination required for entry into an occupation or profession or 
provide them with certificates or licenses that meet State and industry 
requirements.
  I have heard time and time again that a key for successful transition 
from Active Duty to veteran status is gainful employment. And that is 
why we must make sure that the education our veterans receive is truly 
helping them enter the workforce. Again, I urge all my colleagues to 
support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the 
amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes 
legislation in an appropriations bill and therefore violates clause 2 
of rule XXI. The rule states in pertinent part, Mr. Chairman, that an 
amendment to a general appropriation bill shall not be in order if 
changing existing law, and the amendment in this case requires a new 
determination.
  I would ask for a ruling from the Chair.
  The Acting CHAIR. Does any Member wish to address the point of order? 
Seeing none, the Chair is prepared to rule.
  The Chair finds that this amendment includes language requiring a new 
determination as to whether curricula at proprietary institutions 
satisfy various requirements.
  The amendment, therefore, constitutes legislation in violation of 
clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The point of order is sustained, and the amendment is not in order.


                  Amendment Offered by Mr. Blumenauer

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 to implement Veterans Health Administration directive 
     2011-004 with respect to the prohibition on ``VA providers 
     from completing forms seeking recommendations or opinions 
     regarding a Veteran's participation in a State marijuana 
     program.''.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Oregon is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, I deeply appreciate the hard work of 
the committee to make sure that our veterans are properly cared for. 
They deserve our best.
  Too many are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with obvious 
wounds--missing limbs. But over 2.3 million are returning suffering 
from wounds that are not visible. They are suffering from depression 
and PTSD. That is why we lose 22 veterans per day who take their lives, 
long since outnumbering the battlefield deaths. They deserve our best.

[[Page 6598]]

  Over 100 million people reside in the 21 States, including your home 
State of California, which was the first to legalize medical marijuana. 
Twenty-one States and the District of Columbia passed laws that provide 
for legal access to medical marijuana. As a result, as I say, over 1 
million people now have access to it, including many of our veterans 
who use medical marijuana at the recommendation of their physician to 
treat conditions ranging from seizures, glaucoma, anxiety, chronic 
pain, and the symptoms associated with chemotherapy. There are also 
nine States, including my home State of Oregon, that now allow 
physicians to recommend medical marijuana for the symptoms of 
posttraumatic stress disorder.
  I have heard those stories myself. I will enter into the Record one 
story that was in the NBC News on April 1 about Marine veteran Logan 
Edwards, who describes how access to medical marijuana may have saved 
his life.

        `Out of Options': Veterans With PTSD Hit Pot Underground

                            (By Bill Briggs)

                     [From NBC News, Apr. 1, 2014]

       Marine veteran Logan Edwards worried he could become one of 
     the 22 former members of the armed services who, on average, 
     commit suicide every day.
       Then, he says, he tried marijuana.
       Edwards, who served eight months in Iraq, is one of an 
     unknown number of veterans who have turned to marijuana to 
     manage Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which may afflict as 
     much as 20 percent of veterans from the wars in Iraq and 
     Afghanistan, according to experts. The Department of Veterans 
     Affairs doesn't let its doctors prescribe weed, so the former 
     service members buy it illegally, fib to their doctors, 
     accept it as a gift, or grow it themselves.
       In Edwards' case, he says the drug may have saved his life.
       ``The first time I used it, I wanted to cry. Because it 
     took away my anxiety. Because it did everything for me that 
     the Oxycontin, benzodiazepines and anti-depressants the VA 
     prescribed me for three years did not do,'' said Edwards, 26, 
     a resident of Davenport, Iowa. His symptoms--an unrelenting 
     ``hyper-vigilance,'' insomnia and nightmares--emerged ``the 
     moment we walked off the plane'' in 2008.
       ``I can function completely fine all day just by using 
     cannabis. I'm back in school. My attendance is good. My 
     grades are good. My relationships have healed,'' added the 
     former Marine. ``It allowed me to get my life back.''
       In a March 12 letter, federal health officials approved a 
     long-delayed study to explore if pot relieves PTSD. But 
     doctors employed by the VA are banned from prescribing 
     medical marijuana--and from completing forms that allow 
     veterans to enroll in medical-marijuana programs. While 
     medical weed is legal in 20 states, only eight states 
     recognize PTSD as a qualifying condition for which physicians 
     can write cannabis prescriptions.
       ``. . . Due to the way the federal government and the state 
     want to handle this medical marijuana issue, I still am 
     forced to spend time away from family, treating these wounds 
     of war.''
       Across that tangled post-war legal landscape, thousands of 
     combat veterans are tapping underground sources to buy 
     bootleg marijuana to self-treat PTSD. And in 12 states where 
     the drug is legal but prohibited for PTSD, many are lying to 
     doctors that they need medical weed for allowable conditions 
     like chronic pain, advocates assert. Meantime, vast numbers 
     of other veterans can't find it, can't afford it, abuse 
     alcohol to self-medicate, or rely on conventional VA drugs.
       ``My brothers are killing themselves because they're out of 
     options,'' Edwards said. ``These VA pharmaceuticals only 
     exacerbate the problem. The listed side effects on (some) of 
     the bottles say: `Will increase suicidal ideation.' So the 
     suicide rate is really what this comes down to.''
       U.S. Army veteran Tom Studley, 28, served as a machine 
     gunner in Iraq for 15-months. He returned to civilian life 
     with chronic back pain and was diagnosed with PTSD. Studley 
     was prescribed numerous pharmaceuticals, but he said that by 
     inhaling marijuana with a vaporizer, he's been able to stop 
     using those drugs. Here, Studley stands in the shed where he 
     grows some of the 15 plants he's legally allowed as a medical 
     marijuana patient in Washington state in Nov. 2011.
       With marijuana federally classified as a Schedule I 
     controlled substance (like heroin and LSD), VA physicians 
     ``will not provide for use,'' said Gina Jackson, a VA public 
     affairs officer. At the same time, veterans who participate 
     in legal, medical-marijuana programs ``will not be denied 
     access to care for VA clinical programs but should be 
     assessed for misuse, adverse effects, and withdrawal.''
       The possibility of federal drug monitoring--plus fears of 
     losing VA benefits and the threat of legal trouble--has 
     driven scores of veterans to secretly use marijuana for 
     decades to address their PTSD symptoms, several veterans 
     said.
       ``Us veterans have already conducted tests on pot and 
     PTSD--and it works!'' said Vietnam veteran Bob Walker, 69. 
     ``It's nice to see the feds playing catch up.''
       PTSD expert Dr. Harry Croft, a San Antonio-based 
     psychiatrist who has treated veterans for combat-related 
     anxiety and substance abuse, applauds the federally approved 
     investigation.
       ``We owe it to our veterans with this condition,'' Croft 
     said. ``Unfortunately, present treatment options are not 
     helpful to many veterans and, therefore, other newer options 
     should be scientifically explored, including medical 
     marijuana.''
       At Walker's home in Northern California, he ingests pot via 
     a vaporizer each night before bed. A Marine veteran grows 
     that marijuana and supplies it free to Walker and a local 
     network of other Vietnam vets. Diagnosed with PTSD, Walker 
     tried VA-prescribed Xanax and anti-depressants but found he 
     could not function on the pharmaceuticals. About 15 years 
     ago, he said, a VA counselor quietly suggested Walker use 
     cannabis to relieve his insomnia, anxiety, stuttering and 
     cold sweats.
       ``It solved a big problem for me. You feel, well, 
     lighter,'' said Walker, a former Army aircraft mechanic who 
     served in Vietnam in 1965 and 1966, watching his best friend 
     die in a chopper crash. ``Probably 60 to 70 percent of the 
     vets I know use marijuana for stress reduction and sleep. 
     It's their baseline medication.''
       ``I'm back in school. My attendance is good. My grades are 
     good. My relationships have healed. It allowed me to get my 
     life back.''
       Near Denver, retired Marine and Iraq veteran Sean Azzariti, 
     32, sees roughly the same rate of pot use among ex-service 
     members with PTSD. He, too, was diagnosed with the disorder. 
     But in Colorado, PTSD is not a qualifying condition under 
     which private doctors can prescribe cannabis to veterans. So, 
     for four years, Azzariti could not tell his physician the 
     real reason he needed cannabis and instead said the 
     prescription would help treat chronic nausea.
       Simply because of that forced ruse, pro-marijuana advocates 
     ensured Azzarti was the first customer in Colorado to buy 
     legal weed on Jan. 1 when the state began allowing anyone 21 
     and older to purchase pot. He paid $70 for a strain called 
     Bubba Kush and pot-infused candy truffles.
       ``If veterans had another avenue (to treat PTSD), most 
     would take that and it would save lives. I wouldn't be 
     talking to you if I didn't have cannabis,'' said Azzariti, 
     who smokes daily to manage his symptoms. ``Veterans have been 
     ignored for 30 years, denied what they truly need to heal. 
     Vietnam veterans could have told us this stuff works.
       ``That's why I'm open about using it. Sure, there's a 
     chance I'll lose my $120-a-month (VA) disability benefits. 
     But that's a small sacrifice to save one life and potentially 
     change the world,'' Azzariti said. ``With all of these people 
     coming home from war, (the PTSD and veteran-suicide crises) 
     are only going to get worse. How are we going to treat that? 
     We can't just keep throwing pills at people.''
       Near Seattle, Iraq veteran Tom Studley, 28, stopped 
     swallowing pharmaceuticals for his PTSD symptoms four years 
     ago and instead, he said, gained inner peace by smoking, 
     vaporizing and eating marijuana.
       `The anxiety begins to go away pretty quick and stays away 
     for a while,'' said Studley, who served as an Army machine 
     gunner.
       After returning, he was prescribed muscle relaxants, 
     Percocet and methadone for chronic back pain plus Trazodone, 
     Celexa and hydroxyzine pamoate for sleep and anxiety. On his 
     property, Studley now grows, harvests and uses cannabis from 
     his 15 marijuana plants--a legal crop in Washington State.
       ``I feel,'' he said, ``less out of control.''
       In Iowa, Marine veteran Edwards is taking control--but with 
     a painful plan.
       In May, he will move to Colorado, away from his girlfriend 
     and 3-year-old daughter. He's relocating and transferring 
     colleges, he said, for one reason: to legally access medical 
     marijuana to continue managing his PTSD. He's tired of 
     breaking the law.
       ``I thought my deployment days, being away from my family, 
     ended when I got out of the Marine Corps. But due to the way 
     the federal government and the state want to handle this 
     medical marijuana issue, I still am forced to spend time away 
     from family, treating these wounds of war,'' Edwards said.
       ``I never thought I would have to leave the state and 
     community I grew up in to get access to medicine that's 
     working and is better for me than the FDA-approved stuff. I 
     never thought I would end up being a medical refugee.''

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, any of my colleagues, whether they are 
in the State that has legalized medical marijuana or not, can find 
examples of veterans who are benefiting from this treatment, yet the 
Veterans Administration specifically prohibits its medical providers 
from completing forms brought by their patients seeking recommendations 
or opinions regarding a

[[Page 6599]]

veteran's participation in a legal State marijuana program.
  The amendment which I am offering today with Representatives Farr, 
Rohrabacher, and Polis is simple. It ensures that no funds be made 
available to the VA to implement this prohibition. The amendment would 
not authorize the possession or use of marijuana at VA facilities. It 
would simply free up VA providers to recommend medical marijuana or to 
provide advice upon it in accordance with State laws if they choose.
  Over 20 percent of those 2.3 million American veterans suffer from 
PTSD or depression. While there is no single approach to aiding our 
veterans with PTSD, we should not use an outmoded policy to serve as a 
roadblock to the path to recovery. We found that there are nearly 1 
million veterans who receive opiates to treat chronic painful 
conditions. More than half of them continue to use it chronically after 
the treatment regimen.
  Another study found that the death rate from opiate overdoses among 
VA patients is twice the national average. In States where patients can 
legally access medical marijuana for painful conditions as an 
alternative, we shouldn't tie the hands of that primary provider or 
prevent our veterans from talking to their primary care physicians. 
They should not be forced outside the VA system to seek a simple 
recommendation or to get information about these conditions or eligible 
conditions granted to them by State law. Our VA physicians should not 
be denied the ability to offer recommendations and advice that they 
think meets the needs of their patients.

                              {time}  1715

  This shouldn't be controversial. According to a poll published in the 
New England Journal of Medicine, over 70 percent of physicians said 
they would, when appropriate, recommend the use of medical marijuana to 
their patients.
  We all know of people with violent nausea as a result of 
chemotherapy. Why would you deny that to our veterans or at least being 
able to discuss it? Physicians who support legalizing medical marijuana 
nationally have exceeded 70 percent in major national polls.
  This amendment simply allows veterans to consult with their primary 
provider, the same right enjoyed by over 100 million Americans today. I 
urge you to treat our veterans fairly and approve this amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment 
because, even though I am a strong believer in the 10th Amendment and 
public health and public safety is reserved to the States under the 
10th Amendment, here we are talking about Federal facilities.
  Marijuana is prohibited under Federal law. Any Federal facility 
funded with Federal dollars--I think it is entirely appropriate that it 
continue to be prohibited on a Federal facility. This is an issue that 
should be left to the States.
  Nothing is prohibiting a veteran from seeking medical attention in a 
State where this is legal or where medical marijuana is permitted. They 
can certainly go to a private physician. Frankly, in the States where 
it is legal, in some of these States, I think they are even working on 
vending machines for them.
  I understand the gentleman's position, but again, these are Federal 
facilities funded with Federal dollars. It is prohibited under Federal 
law, and it is an issue best left to the States.
  I think we would all do better as a Congress to honor the 10th 
Amendment and leave those issues involving public health and public 
safety to the States. We ought to focus on the issues specifically 
delegated to the Federal Government by the Constitution and leave the 
vast majority of issues in the hands of voters, their local elected 
officials, and State officials. This is certainly one of them.
  When it comes to a federally funded facility, I think it is 
appropriate that the VA has a policy against their doctors prescribing 
or recommending the use of a substance that is prohibited under Federal 
law. If they need it, they can go to States where it is permitted. I 
urge Members to oppose the amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Chairman, I couldn't disagree more with my respected 
chairman. This is really a medical issue that ought to be in the hands 
of medical doctors. It does not allow them to prescribe marijuana. They 
can prescribe Oxycontin.
  What this amendment does, it says if your State has legalized for 
medical purposes, as a doctor in a VA facility, you can have a 
discussion with a vet seeking medical advice on whether you ought to 
have access to--he can't write out the prescription, he doesn't have 
authority to do that. It is a conversation. It is a discussion. It is a 
medical conversation.
  I don't care whether you are for or against marijuana. That is not 
the issue here. The issue is--and Mr. Chairman, you know this issue 
from Eric Seastrand in our California State Legislature who happened to 
be a Republican assemblyman dying of cancer, he got up and made the 
most impassioned plea I have ever heard in my life on a legislative 
floor, saying members--and he was a pretty conservative guy. He said: 
you know, when you are dying, don't deny us access to hope.
  The issue was about getting access to a prescription drug that hadn't 
yet been licensed. So I think we are in this debate now in this country 
whether we like it or not. The voters of California overwhelmingly 
passed--and I think it is pretty much a senior citizen issue--that if 
we are having chronic pain and if we think medical marijuana can help 
alleviate that pain, don't deny us access to it.
  All this amendment says is that if you are in a VA clinic and you 
want to have a discussion with your doctor about relieving pain or 
other things, you can have that conversation.
  As a medical adviser, I think they want to have that authority. They 
can't do it in every State, they can't do it in every VA building, only 
in those States where the dialogue is going to be on the streets 
anyway; but they are not going to be professional dialogues unless you 
allow doctors to do this.
  This is a very simple amendment. Let doctors be doctors. Let them 
advise patients accordingly. Pass this amendment, regardless of how you 
feel about marijuana.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FARR. I yield to the gentleman from Oregon.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. I listened to my good friend from Texas. I am 
troubled here. Why would we force veterans who are entitled to 
veterans' health and have a primary physician that meets their needs 
say, sorry, you don't get it in this case, go out on your own nickel, 
go out and find a new doctor?
  We are not talking about prescribing it. We are not talking about 
using it on Federal facilities. We are talking about giving access to 
information and having that conversation.
  I dare say there is no other medical condition, if it were polio or 
cancer, that you would say: nope, go someplace else. Go on your own 
dime. Find somebody--build a relationship with someone who doesn't know 
your history, who hasn't seen you regularly. You are out of here.
  I think that is a disservice to our veterans. I don't think it is 
anything that--if you talk to veterans' groups, if you talk to the 
people who benefit from it, that they think that they ought to be 
denied the ability to consult with their trusted medical provider.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FARR. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Very quickly, we are talking about those States where 
it is already permitted--either medical

[[Page 6600]]

marijuana is in Colorado, and I think Washington State has already 
permitted it.
  It is a 10th Amendment issue. It is something that is left up to the 
States, but we are talking about federally funded facilities, and that 
is the concern here, in a federally funded facility, where it is 
illegal under Federal law, that is the problem.
  Mr. FARR. No, it isn't.
  Mr. CULBERSON. This is a federally funded facility.
  Mr. FARR. Yes. And so you are going to have the doctor say: I am 
sorry, you are in a Federal facility. I can't talk to you about a 
prescription of medical marijuana, even though you have asked the 
question. I can answer your question about abortions. I can answer your 
question about Oxycontin. I can answer your question about alcohol. I 
can talk about any other kind of evil that may be in your mind or 
benefit that may be in your mind, but I am prohibited by Federal law 
because I am a doctor in this State working for the Veterans 
Administration, from having a conversation with you about medical 
marijuana.
  That just doesn't make sense. It is not good medical practice.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Because it is prohibited by Federal law.
  Mr. FARR. Because it is prohibited by Federal law and I happen to be 
in a State where Federal law ignores this because law enforcement, 
medical folks, it is part of our system. We have worked out the 
regulations.
  You don't see the Feds coming in and busting clinics in California or 
people using medical marijuana. You would be busting a lot of senior 
citizens. Look, we have a hypocrisy in the law. That is what this 
amendment is trying to clear up. I ask for an ``aye'' vote.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Colorado is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. To my friends from Texas and Oregon, I would say to 
the gentleman from Texas: you are absolutely right, it is against 
Federal law, and that is something that we as a legislature need to 
look at very closely.
  We are dealing with issues right now in Colorado where we have 
legalized the use of marijuana. In respect to certain banking laws, 
there may be a question of whether banks can provide financial services 
to marijuana businesses, and as a consequence, cash is building up.
  So you may be absolutely right, I say to my friend from Texas; but 
the gentleman from Oregon does, as does the gentleman from California, 
state a valid case from a medical point of view. I would just say that 
I had a brother-in-law who had melanoma, and the only thing that gave 
him any relief was marijuana.
  Now, subsequently, he has passed away, but from a medical standpoint, 
there ought to be an opportunity for a doctor to consult with a patient 
to prescribe something that gives that kind of relief.
  So you are correct, Mr. Chairman, but I think we need to really take 
a good look at this. In Colorado, we see a lot of people coming to 
Colorado to help treat epilepsy because marijuana may have some 
positive effects on epilepsy. We need to take a look at that in a whole 
variety of ways.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CULBERSON. That is absolutely a valid issue for the States to 
take up. We should all honor the 10th Amendment. The Constitution 
delegates limited powers to the Congress. If it crosses State lines, 
interstate commerce, that is a valid Federal concern. If it is using 
Federal dollars, that is a valid Federal concern.
  But that debate, you are exactly right, should be held at the State 
level. When it comes to police powers, public health, public safety, 
that is reserved to the States under the 10th Amendment, and I would 
absolutely agree; but in a Federal facility, that is different.
  That is using Federal dollars to talk about a substance that is 
prohibited under Federal law. I have a problem with that.
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, I am very happy to hear my good friend 
from Texas supporting the other legislation that we have that leaves it 
up to the States to make sure that they can declare marijuana legal or 
illegal. I am very happy to have you on board.
  I rise in strong support today, however, of the Blumenauer-Farr-
Rohrabacher-Polis amendment to the MilCon-VA Appropriations bill, which 
would essentially remove an unreasonable barrier that prevents VA 
physicians from recommending that our veterans have the benefit of 
State medical marijuana programs.
  The idea that VA physicians, totally legitimate doctors who treat 
veterans and their illnesses, cannot recommend marijuana--or, by the 
way, any other drug to their patients--and to treat things especially 
when they are going to recommend a drug that might be used in treatment 
for posttraumatic stress disorder, this is extremely troubling.
  Our veterans have benefited from using medical cannabis to treat PTSD 
and other ailments, so why are we denying our veterans the ability to 
access something through their health care provider that is available 
to the general public through access to their providers?
  The fact that our veterans cannot receive recommendations from VA 
physicians means that they are forced to go outside the VA system just 
to get a simple recommendation on a drug.
  Restricting the freedom and ability of our Nation's heroes, 
individuals who have sacrificed so much for our freedom, to obtain 
medicine that their doctor believes would alleviate their problem and 
would be a treatment to an ailment that may be as a result of a war 
that we sent them off to fight, but now to deny them the right to 
actually have their doctor give the recommendation that he thinks would 
help them is just simply not right.
  There are numerous physicians who believe that medical marijuana can 
have a great impact on these patients, on these veterans, on these 
people who are perhaps suffering as a result of the battles that we put 
them through. To fence off our veterans from such benefits is simply 
not acceptable.
  I sincerely hope that all of my colleagues will stand up for patients 
and veterans by rejecting this heavy-handed government intervention 
into the doctor-patient relationship.
  Vote for this amendment and get out of the way of the medical 
judgment of VA physicians who are treating our veterans. Get out of the 
way. Let our VA physicians do what they believe is right for our 
veterans. That is what the issue is today.
  We are talking about medical marijuana or other treatments, and 
certainly, our VA physicians would know more about that and have more 
concern for their patients than we here in Congress and those people 
who set up national rules have.
  So let's get out of the way, make sure we give the power and empower 
the VA physicians to do their job. Our veterans deserve that from us. 
They don't deserve obstructionism between the United States Congress 
and the veterans' physicians. I call on my colleagues to join me in 
support of this amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1730

  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Nevada is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment by 
Messrs. Blumenauer, Rohrabacher, and Farr. I am strongly in favor of 
it.
  The people of Nevada voted overwhelmingly to legalize medical 
marijuana. In the coming months, the first medical marijuana 
depositories will go

[[Page 6601]]

online throughout the State. At the same time, we also have a brandnew 
VA hospital, which will be serving the veterans of my district and all 
across southern Nevada.
  Unfortunately, due to VA's current restrictions, the more than 
250,000 veterans who call Nevada home will be unable to receive a 
prescription for medical marijuana through their VA doctors, and so 
they will not have the opportunity to take advantage of this available 
in Nevada medical option.
  This is just not fair. I believe that the VA should have the 
flexibility. It has been said much more eloquently than I can by the 
sponsors of this amendment; but the VA should have the flexibility to 
recommend the best medical treatments available to our Nation's 
veterans, especially if that treatment is approved under the State laws 
where the veteran lives.
  As a Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I regularly 
speak with both VA doctors and patients about advances in care for our 
Nation's heroes. Forcing those people--those brave men and women who 
have sacrificed so much--now to seek outside medical evaluation to 
access legal medical treatment from doctors who have little or no 
understanding of the unique challenges that our veterans face is simply 
bad policy--bad political policy and bad medical policy.
  We have already seen the positive results that medical marijuana can 
have for patients suffering from PTSD and other ailments associated 
with traumatic experiences, such as combat. More studies are underway--
including by the VA itself--that are anticipated to show these same 
kinds of results, and we have heard numerous stories firsthand.
  I support this. I think it is common sense, it is bipartisan, we 
should move forward, and I urge my colleagues to join.
  At this time, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentlelady's courtesy 
and the points that she made.
  I heard my friend, the chair of the committee, talk about it being 
against the law. I am not aware of any place--and I would direct this 
to Mr. Culberson--I am not aware of any place in the statutes where it 
is illegal for our VA doctors to give advice to our veterans about a 
treatment that is legal in a State.
  What we are talking about is a prohibition that is a directive, so if 
there is a statute, I would be interested in knowing about it; but even 
if it is, what if the advice that the VA doctor wants to give is don't 
use medical marijuana?
  They know their patient. Even if it is legal in their State, they 
think it is not in the best interest of the patient. Your policy would 
prohibit that doctor from telling that patient: I think it is wrong for 
you, I don't think it works.
  What is the wisdom of prohibiting? You are prejudging what the doctor 
would say. I think the doctor ought to be able to give whatever advice 
he or she wants to give.
  I would yield to you, if the gentlelady would permit, where is it 
illegal under Federal law for a doctor to talk about medical marijuana 
or any other legal treatment?
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Culberson).
  Mr. CULBERSON. I would simply point out that a Federal employee who 
is paid with Federal tax dollars is obligated to follow Federal law.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Right. Where is it in the Federal law that it is 
illegal?
  Mr. CULBERSON. It is prohibited under Federal law.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Where in Federal law? I haven't been able to find 
that. Where is it prohibited for a doctor to give advice to a patient 
for a treatment that is legal in their State, pro or con? Where is that 
illegal?
  Mr. CULBERSON. My point is simply that a Federal employee drawing his 
paycheck from Federal tax dollars obviously is obligated to follow 
Federal law.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Right. Where is that illegal under Federal law?
  Mr. CULBERSON. Marijuana is prohibited under Federal law, and that is 
my point.
  I urge Members to oppose the amendment for that reason.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. I would like to make the point that the gentleman is 
wrong. I am happy for him to show us where it is prohibited for a 
doctor to talk about a legal State treatment. There is no Federal 
prohibition that we have been able to find because, if I could find it, 
I would introduce legislation to repeal it.
  But my point obtained, what if the advice of the doctor is don't use 
medical marijuana, which is legal, because it is not right for you, I 
am your primary physician, why would you prohibit that?
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Duncan of Tennessee). The time of the 
gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Louisiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, today, in this very interesting 
discussion, I am talking on this subject coming from the perspective of 
a physician and a military veteran himself, someone who is very 
acquainted with addiction disorders, someone who has been a medical 
director for addiction centers, even involved with methadone treatment 
over the years.
  I can tell you that we all honor our veterans. We love our veterans. 
We are so glad that they have sacrificed what they have and what they 
go through. We know about PTSD and traumatic brain syndrome and all of 
these things which are a big problem.
  However, I would say to you, Mr. Chairman, that the last thing in the 
world we should be doing is giving medical marijuana to people with 
these disorders.
  What have we learned just in recent days? This month, the American 
Heart Association came out and said that marijuana, through their 
studies, both in young adults and middle-aged adults, has been shown to 
be very damaging to the cardiovascular system, leading to heart disease 
and congestive heart failure. I have a study right here.
  Also, in this month, Northwestern came out with a study where they 
found that there were profound changes in the brain just among young 
adults who were using only casual exposure to marijuana. We know, on a 
biochemical level, that addictive substances such as marijuana cause 
changes in the microscopic neurotransmitters. I wrote a book on that in 
2007.
  So I would say to you today that one of the last things we should do 
is to damage the brains and the hearts of our beloved veterans. Why 
should we be hurting them?
  As far as the claim that there is medical use for marijuana, where is 
the proof of that? What disease or disorder can be treated by marijuana 
and nothing else just as well, if not better? There is no proof out 
there. Trust me, I have been looking for it.
  There is a mention of treating seizures. Yes, the University of 
Mississippi is doing a study extracting the oil, not the THC, but the 
oil for the use for some seizure disorders. It is under 
experimentation. There is no proof that it does any good.
  Is medicinal marijuana anything other than recreational marijuana? 
Well, we have more dispensaries in California and Colorado than we do 
Starbucks. Do we have that many sick people in these States? I don't 
think so.
  So I come to you today as a physician telling you that, having 
treated veterans in VA hospitals, one of the last things in the world 
we should do is give addicting substances to people with PTSD and other 
brain disorders. Any good physician would tell you that. We have other 
anxiety-reducing medications that are nonaddicting and work very well. 
Antidepressants do a very good job.
  But we know that if we compound a brain disorder or disease with an 
addicting substance that alters the brain itself, we are just going to 
see even higher rates of disorders, especially suicides.

[[Page 6602]]

  I would challenge you today that we back away from this. Fine, if we 
want to do some more studies, but medical marijuana--medicinal 
marijuana--in fact, we even have something called Marinol, which is 
prescribed sometimes under a physician's supervision--but medicinal 
marijuana is not under a physician's supervision.
  There is a scrip written out, and somebody goes and gets high. The 
smoke from marijuana has more tar in it than cigarettes. Why do we want 
to have another epidemic of lung cancer and heart disease, for heaven's 
sake, especially among our veterans?
  I would say to you today that you can argue about the law. I would 
say to the gentleman that, yes, it would be improper to recommend to a 
patient to break the law by using a schedule I drug. It is against the 
law to use that, at least the Federal law. I wouldn't advise a patient 
to go break the law. I don't think that would be proper for me as a 
physician to do that.
  I would say to you today that we have a number of medical and health 
reasons that we don't want to hurt and damage the vital organs of our 
wonderful and beloved veterans.
  Again, if somebody has a claim that marijuana helps people medically, 
if it is so necessary and better than any other drug that we have on 
the market, well, then come forward with the proof.
  The fact that there are doctors out there who say: yeah, I prescribe 
it for my patients, fine. But we have doctors who do a lot of things 
that I don't advise and many other doctors don't advise. It doesn't 
make it right. It only makes it right if we have proof out there, 
scientific evidence, that supports its use and benefits.
  I think this is a good debate to have. I know we are going to be 
talking about this more, but this does not belong in this bill. Let's 
protect our veterans, not damage them.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Tennessee is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, what the gentleman said was a one-size-fits-
all answer.
  The fact is, when I first spoke on a similar amendment about the DEA 
and marijuana, it was about a gentleman named Oral James Mitchell, Jr., 
a Navy SEAL who served this country in Vietnam and died in 1996 of 
pancreatic cancer.
  He violated the law in 1996 in the State of Maryland because he used 
marijuana to ease his nausea. Also, as his mother said:

       It is the only thing that allows Oral to smile and to eat. 
     He didn't like the Marinol. He said it didn't do as much good 
     as smoking marijuana.

  When we are talking about somebody who has cancer and wants to use 
marijuana to improve the condition they are in and suffering from the 
nausea--and there is a lot of evidence that it is better than Marinol--
then we don't have to worry about the situations that the doctor 
mentioned about possibly causing somebody heart disease over a period 
of years, which we know tobacco does and it is sold all around and 
legal.
  We are talking about saving people pain, and we are talking about a 
VA doctor being able to distinguish between allowing somebody who might 
be in the last months or years of life and alleviating their pain with 
one of the best agents known to man to do that, rather than a situation 
where somebody might be young.
  We don't have that many veterans who are as young as the AMA study 
discussed and their ability to think. That was talking about kids who 
were teenagers. They are not veterans.
  I would submit that there are times the doctor should have 
discretion. We are not talking about the doctor dispensing marijuana. 
We are talking about a directive from the Federal Government 
prohibiting the doctor from saying: I think like Dr. Fleming, and I 
don't think that you should use marijuana, I don't think you should go 
to another physician if you could afford it outside the VA system and 
try to get him to give you a directive to where you can go and get 
marijuana.
  This prohibits the VA doctor from allowing Dr. Fleming, if he worked 
at the VA, to tell his patient not to do it. The VA doctor should be 
able to speak the truth.
  This is censorship by our Federal Government--a directive--which I 
think most of the people on the other side of the aisle have certainly 
been against Federal Government influence in medical policies and have 
done all they can to stop the Federal Government from influencing 
medical decisions. Here is a situation where you are saying the doctor 
should be censored.
  There is a lot of evidence that medical cannabis helps, but 
particularly with nausea. I know the Chair knows people in east 
Tennessee, as I know in Memphis, who have contacted me and asked me to 
allow them to be able to get medical marijuana.
  They can't do it in Tennessee yet. They would like to do it in 
Tennessee at the veterans' hospitals, but where it is legal in the 
State, the doctor should not be muzzled and censored.
  This Congress should be in favor of the freedom of speech and in 
favor of the doctor being able to use their best efforts to help their 
patients and exercise their Hippocratic oath to do what they think is 
best, which may be to say no.
  I yield to Mr. Blumenauer to add to this discussion because he was 
exactly right. This doesn't say anything about dispensing marijuana. It 
doesn't say you are for marijuana. It simply says you allow the VA 
doctor to exercise their judgment.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. I appreciate it. It is hard to improve upon your 
eloquence because you are speaking in favor of Dr. Fleming being able 
to advise a veteran, if he was back at the VA, to say don't use medical 
marijuana.
  This directive would prohibit him from saying to his patient, no, 
don't do it, and reciting all the facts and figures. Why would we 
muzzle Dr. Fleming from his professional responsibilities, one way or 
another, in terms of medical marijuana?

                              {time}  1745

  The literature is being built. I just visited with dozens of medical 
professionals who want to do more research, who want to deal with this 
in a clinical, thoughtful way. We have got stupid Federal policies that 
prohibit the research. I have met with parents who have children with 
violent epileptic seizures, and they are moving to States in which they 
can get medical marijuana, because they can get it. The physicians 
cannot get medical marijuana to study, but it is making a difference 
for these families.
  We just ought not to confuse what we are talking about here. We are 
talking about VA hospital doctors being able to do something that is 
not prohibited under Federal law, which is talking about the pros and 
cons of treatment. That ought to be our objective, and that is why this 
amendment should be approved.
  The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman from Tennessee has 
expired.
  The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Oregon 
(Mr. Blumenauer).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, 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 Oregon will 
be postponed.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Runyan

  Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), add the 
     following new section:
       Sec. 417.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to propose, plan for, or execute a new or additional 
     Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment, which is cosponsored by 
Representative Barber, states that

[[Page 6603]]

none of the funds made available by this act may be used to propose, to 
plan for, or to execute a new or an additional round of BRAC.
  There is no doubt that we recognize the defense budget pressures that 
we face today in this fiscal environment, and we should direct our 
limited dollars to addressing the current mission, infrastructure, and 
readiness needs in support of our warfighters. Based on the cost of 
previous Base Realignment and Closure, a new round of base closures 
will likely entail large up-front costs and will end up costing much 
more than originally estimated. For example, the GAO says that the last 
BRAC in 2005 had an actual cost of $35.1 billion. That is an 
approximately 67 percent increase from the September 2005 BRAC 
Commission's original cost estimate of $21 billion.
  I know many Members of this Chamber want Congress to continue to have 
the close oversight of our military installations and infrastructure. 
This bipartisan amendment ensures that we can do that. I urge my 
colleagues to support this amendment, which helps ensure that the funds 
in this bill address current needs, rather than to support a new round 
of BRAC.
  I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Barber, for 
offering this amendment with me, and I thank the chairman and the 
members of the subcommittee for working with me on this important 
issue.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. BARBER. I want to thank my colleague for cosponsoring this 
important bipartisan amendment. Congressman Runyan understands very 
well, I think, that we have to have a commitment in order to make sure 
that we do the right thing by our military.
  Mr. Chairman, we are in difficult times. There is no question we are 
in times when the budgets are constrained, but as we draw down our 
forces from war in Afghanistan and shift our strategic focus to the 
Pacific, reducing Active Duty personnel and equipment across the 
services, there is absolutely no doubt that we must reevaluate where we 
are in terms of the Department of Defense's infrastructure. However, 
this does not mean that we should take on another round of Base 
Realignment and Closure, or BRAC.
  Our military installations across the Nation have a profound impact 
on the families of the communities that support these installations. In 
my district, for example, we have two installations--the Davis-Monthan 
Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca. Both the communities of Tucson and 
Sierra Vista have storied histories that go back over eight decades in 
support of these installations. They have become inextricably linked, 
with the bases and the cities growing and prospering together.
  Mr. Chairman, while sequestration and the current fiscal outlook 
demand that we make prudent decisions about spending across the 
government, now is not the time for another costly round of BRAC. The 
2005 round of BRAC cost our taxpayers money, and we have yet to see any 
savings from it. It doesn't seem prudent to start another one while we 
are still looking for savings. Our military communities, including 
those in southern Arizona, cannot afford the uncertainty of another 
round of BRAC.
  Again, I want to thank Congressman Runyan for his leadership on this 
issue, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support 
this important amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Colorado is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to talk about two issues 
of great importance to veterans in Colorado and throughout the Rocky 
Mountain West.
  First, I want to talk about the new stand-alone hospital, the U.S. 
Department of VA's replacement medical center in Aurora, Colorado. This 
hospital has been one of my top priorities for 7 years, which is when I 
arrived in Congress. This hospital has been promised to our veterans 
for nearly 15 to almost 20 years. The project has gone through a number 
of iterations over the years under two Presidents and four Secretaries 
of the VA. Once completed, this medical facility will serve hundreds of 
thousands of veterans across the Rocky Mountain West. The 182-bed 
facility will include a full range of medical, laboratory, research, 
and counseling services, a 30-bed spinal cord injury unit, a 30-bed 
community living center, and a PTSD rehabilitation clinic.
  The hospital is well underway, but, unfortunately, the VA is involved 
in an ongoing contract dispute with the prime contractor, putting the 
cost and schedule for completing this project in jeopardy. At the heart 
of the dispute is the cost of the final design, which is leading to 
hundreds of change orders submitted to the VA by the contractor with 
very few approved and paid. The original design called for an 
approximately $1.1 billion state-of-the-art medical center, but 
Congress authorized and appropriated $800 million for the acquisition 
of approximately 40 acres of land and several buildings as well as 
design and construction. The original design appears not to have 
significantly changed and, consequently, a funding gap exists between 
the authorized amount for the contract and the overall cost of the 
project. This contract dispute will be heard next month by the U.S. 
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.
  I am working constantly with the VA and with other members of the 
Colorado congressional delegation to find solutions to improve the 
construction process of this medical center and finish the project. 
Unfortunately, it is becoming clear to me that the VA and Congress have 
underestimated the cost to build this facility, and in the coming 
months, our delegation will be asking for additional appropriations. I 
am not happy about this, but we have promised this hospital to our 
veterans for more than a decade, and we must finish the facility.
  I want to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop for 
continuing a dialogue with our delegation and the VA to ensure we will 
have the resources necessary to finish this hospital as quickly as 
possible.
  I also want to talk today about an important issue about our veterans 
who are returning home. During the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, we saw a 
dramatic increase in traumatic brain injuries among our veterans. One 
of the common neurological disorders due to TBI is the development of 
epilepsy. Data from prior wars indicate that as many as 50 percent of 
individuals experiencing penetrating brain trauma will develop 
epilepsy.
  Because of this increase, I worked with Senator Patty Murray and the 
Bush administration in 2008 to establish Epilepsy Centers of Excellence 
within the VA Health Administration. These centers have done an 
excellent job in dealing with people in our veterans' community who 
have developed seizure disorders. The VA currently has 16 centers 
across the country, creating a national network of facilities prepared 
to diagnose and treat veterans with epilepsy.
  These centers need to be fully funded. I ask that the committee 
continue to work with the VA to make sure that the funding for those 16 
centers continues unabated.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Mr. Chairman, I am doing this, actually, to try to be 
efficient because we are moving on a bit.
  May I request that the gentleman from Texas enter into a quick 
colloquy with me.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Certainly.
  Mr. SCHWEIKERT. We attached the Rothfus amendment earlier, and I 
believe the amendment I was going to be

[[Page 6604]]

offering in a couple of moments would have probably been a little 
duplicative, but I want to make a specific point.
  We have had a series of amendments here and discussions in regards to 
bonuses for VA leadership. There are frustrations and concerns 
particularly when we look at previous GAO reports which say the 
matrix--some of the data, some of the collection--on wait times and 
other things that substantially the bonuses are based on, as this GAO 
report says, may actually be very inaccurate.
  If the performance bonuses continue to exist, Mr. Chairman, would you 
be willing to work with someone like me and my office to try to find a 
better way? My fear is that right now, in the way it is designed, we 
incentivize playing games with the wait times. The world works on 
incentives and disincentives.
  Can we work together to come up with a better methodology of how we 
incentivize good acts so that we are all comfortable that we are moving 
towards, shall we say, a proper analysis of the outcomes, and, 
therefore, we reward those?
  Mr. CULBERSON. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. SCHWEIKERT. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Absolutely. Of course. I look forward to working with 
you and your office.
  Mr. SCHWEIKERT. That is all I wanted to accomplish here.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Takano

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 in this Act for the All-Volunteer Force Educational 
     Assistance Program under chapter 30 of title 38, United 
     States Code, or the Post 9/11 Educational Assistance Program 
     under chapter 33 of such title and provided to an institution 
     of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) may be used for 
     recruiting or marketing activities.

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
  The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would prevent Federal student 
aid for veterans, including post-
9/11 GI Bill benefits, from being used by colleges for marketing and 
recruiting purposes.
  A Senate Health Committee report showed that many for-profits used 
more than 22 percent of their revenue on marketing and recruiting but 
less than 18 percent on academic instruction. At the same time, many of 
these schools received more than 80 percent of their revenue from 
Federal student aid, including post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and other 
veterans' education benefits.

                              {time}  1800

  That's a lot of veteran's education assistance and taxpayer money 
going to for-profit schools to market to and recruit students. It has 
been well documented that some of these schools use overly aggressive, 
deceptive, and fraudulent practices to get students to attend their 
schools. Thirty-eight State attorneys general, the CFPB, the SEC, FDIC, 
and DOJ are all investigating the practices of for-profit colleges. We 
need to address this abuse of student veterans' and taxpayer dollars. I 
urge you all to support my amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chair, I make a point of order against the 
amendment because it proposes to change existing law and, therefore, 
constitutes legislation in an appropriation bill in violation of clause 
2 of rule XXI.
  The rules states in pertinent part that an amendment to a general 
appropriations bill shall not be in order if it changes existing law.
  This amendment, Mr. Chairman, requires a new determination, and I 
would ask for a ruling from the Chair.
  The Acting CHAIR. Does anyone else wish to speak on the point of 
order? If not, the Chair is prepared to rule.
  In pertinent part, the amendment restricts funds for marketing 
activities.
  Absent a showing of a statutory or regulatory definition of marketing 
activities, the amendment would require a Federal official to define 
what activities constitute marketing activities. Such a requirement 
constitutes a new duty in violation of clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The point of order is sustained, and the amendment is not in order.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Gosar

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I have my first amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 to create or maintain any patient record-keeping 
     system other than those currently approved by the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs Central Office in Washington, D.C.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I rise to stand with veterans throughout the 
country and offer a simple amendment that seeks to prohibit funds in 
this bill from being used to create or maintain any unofficial 
recordkeeping system at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  As many of you know, numerous news reports have surfaced that assert 
that the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System has been using 
secondary, unofficial records of veterans' claims and appointment 
requests. These allegations claim that the reasoning behind these 
actions was to misrepresent the actual wait times the veterans faced as 
they sought health care.
  A whistleblower has come forward and alleged the facility was taking 
the vets' application information, transcribing that information to an 
unofficial shared document, and only putting veterans' information and 
requests into the real system when they knew that the veterans were 
likely to receive an appointment within a 2-week timeframe. If true, on 
paper, the VA central office here in Washington would be under the 
impression that the wait time goals for appointments were being met. 
According to reports, veterans were waiting for months and months on 
end.
  The House Veterans' Affairs Committee is conducting an investigation 
into the matter and so far has said as many as 40 veterans suffered and 
died while waiting for appointments through the Phoenix VA system. 
Their investigation is ongoing, and they fear there could be many more 
deaths as a result of this negligence.
  I would like to thank the full committee chairman, Chairman Miller, 
and Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee Chairman Coffman for their 
efforts on this front.
  The inspector general's office at the VA is also conducting 
investigations into these allegations. It is my hope that we get to the 
full truth soon and that those responsible are held accountable. 
Depending on the findings, criminal charges may even be in order. In 
the meantime, my goal is to ensure that such recordkeeping practices 
are not allowed to take place.
  I have said this before, it is sad that we have to legislate in this 
way. When government bureaucrats don't use good judgment and common 
sense, regulations and laws must be changed to prevent bad behavior. No 
matter what the investigation shows and no matter who was involved, 
this practice must be prevented in the future. My amendment seeks to do 
just that.
  Only the official systems approved by the Veterans Administration's 
Central Office should be used. This way, we have oversight, 
accountability, and uniformity. It is my hope that one day we also have 
a little more efficiency in these processes.
  Thank you for your consideration, and I urge my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to support the passage of my commonsense amendment.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page 6605]]

  The Acting CHAIR. Seeing no additional speakers, the question is on 
the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Grayson

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), add the 
     following new section:
       Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to enter into a contract with any offeror or any of 
     its principals if the offeror certifies, as required by 
     Federal Acquisition Regulation, that the offeror or any of 
     its principals:
       (A) within a three-year period preceding this offer has 
     been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against it 
     for: commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection 
     with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public 
     (Federal, State, or local) contract or subcontract; violation 
     of Federal or State antitrust statutes relating to the 
     submission of offers; or commission of embezzlement, theft, 
     forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, 
     making false statements, tax evasion, violating Federal 
     criminal tax laws, or receiving stolen property; or
       (B) are presently indicted for, or otherwise criminally or 
     civilly charged by a governmental entity with, commission of 
     any of the offenses enumerated above in subsection (A); or
       (C) within a three-year period preceding this offer, has 
     been notified of any delinquent Federal taxes in an amount 
     that exceeds $3,000 for which the liability remains 
     unsatisfied.

  Mr. GRAYSON (during the reading). Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent 
that it be considered as read.
  The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is identical to language 
that was inserted by voice vote into this bill last year, as well as 
every other appropriations bill that was considered by an open rule.
  This amendment would expand the list of wrongdoing parties with whom 
the Federal Government is prohibited from contracting. That list should 
contractors who have been convicted of fraud, who have violated Federal 
or State antitrust laws, who have been convicted of embezzlement, 
theft, forgery, bribery, violation of Federal tax laws and other items 
outlined in section 52.209-5 of title 48 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations.
  These are all offenses which any contractor doing business with the 
Federal Government must disclose to the contracting officer in every 
offer. Oddly enough however, without this amendment, the contracting 
officer is then free to ignore these transgressions and award contracts 
to the offending offeror.
  I commend the authors of this bill for their inclusion of sections 
413 and 414, which are relevant to this issue. I submit, however, that 
we can improve this bill by prohibiting agencies from contracting with 
those entities who have engaged in the criminal and fraudulent 
activities that I have described.
  It is my hope that this amendment will be noncontroversial, as it was 
last year, and again be passed unanimously by voice vote by the House.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Seeing no additional speakers, the question is on 
the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Grayson).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Gosar

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I have my second amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  The amounts otherwise provided by this Act are 
     revised by reducing the amount made available for 
     ``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental 
     Administration--General Administration'', and increasing the 
     amount made available for ``Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Departmental Administration--Information Technology 
     Systems'', by $3,215,910.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment that seeks to 
redirect funds that would otherwise be spent on Department of Veterans 
Affairs bureaucrats and administrative expenses and puts those monies 
towards timely service for our veterans.
  Although this amendment is a dollar-for-dollar transfer within this 
bill, which will result in a neutral impact on the bill's budget 
authority, the amendment will actually decrease budget outlays for 2015 
by $1 million according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
  The general administration account for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs is funded at $321,591,000. Funds to this account can be spent 
on things that have nothing to do with administrating critical services 
for our veterans. Examples include things like receptions, conferences, 
uniforms, and excessive travel for bureaucrats.
  It is no secret that the VA, like other Federal agencies like the GSA 
and the IRS, has in recent years abused the trust of the American 
people by spending exorbitant amounts of money on conferences and 
travel expenses. I think we all know that the VA has had its share of 
problems in the past few years. Meanwhile, wait times for claims 
processing and appeals processing are horrendous.
  The most recent report put forth by the VA indicates there are more 
than 600,000 veterans' claims pending with the VA. Even more troubling 
is the fact that 319,363 claims have been pending for more than 125 
days.
  Many of our veterans are simply giving up. They are either giving up 
on trying to obtain the benefits they deserve, or worse, some of them 
are giving up on life altogether. It is a travesty, and this appalling 
trend must by reversed.
  It is disheartening to me that such wasteful spending occurs while 
veterans are crying out for help. It is distressing that it occurs 
while veterans are taking their own lives. It is truly disturbing that 
it occurs when we have veterans dying as they wait for care.
  I appreciate the committee's hard work and its acknowledgment of the 
importance of reducing the backlog in this bill. Having said that, I 
think we can do more and should focus on prioritizing funding for 
efforts that will lead to timelier care for our Nation's heroes as 
opposed to administrative expenses. That is why I proposed redirecting 
a mere 1 percent of the funds in the general administration account 
away from the funding for conference expenses and bureaucrats and 
shifting those funds towards reducing the VA backlog.
  It is unfair to say that all VA employees and officials have abused 
the trust of the American people and the veterans that they are meant 
to serve. There are many within this Department who work tirelessly to 
get through their claims and streamline processes. To those people, I 
say ``thank you.''
  Our veterans and the American taxpayers are not pleased with the 
overall production level at the VA. It is time to remember and act on 
the mission at hand: serving our veterans who have given so much for 
this Nation.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the 
passage of my commonsense amendment.
  With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Seeing no additional speakers, the question is on 
the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Amendment Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 for 
     benefits for homeless veterans and training and outreach 
     programs may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 
     contravention of subchapter III of chapter 20 of title 38, 
     United States Code.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Texas is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Mr. Culberson and Mr.

[[Page 6606]]

Bishop for doing an outstanding job as they have done and make a 
bipartisan statement that as the first bill of the appropriations 
season comes forward we stand in solidarity against veterans waiting, 
against veterans' claims not being processed, and against veterans 
dying because they have not been treated.
  I don't think any Member of Congress would adhere to that kind of 
abuse of our veterans, and I hope that we find solutions in a 
bipartisan way. I also believe the administration and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, a military retiree himself, would stand in solidarity 
to stop this kind of treatment of our veterans.
  One of the groups that we have a solidarity and commitment to are the 
Nation's homeless veterans. We know that there are over 100,000 
homeless veterans and 1,000-plus homeless veterans in Houston, Texas.
  My amendment reinforces and reaffirms our commitment in looking to 
ensure that funds are not cut in subchapter 3, dealing with homeless 
matters, enhancement of comprehensive services, in particular, 
hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care, which used to be only for 
homeless veterans who were suffering from mental health issues, now 
access to all veterans. So the Jackson Lee amendment is here to ensure 
that reducing, eliminating homelessness among veterans is of paramount 
responsibility and commitment to those who risk their lives to protect 
our freedom.
  My amendment will remind us of our obligation to provide our veterans 
the assistance needed to avoid homelessness, which includes adequately 
funding for programs, Veterans Administration's support of housing that 
provides case management services, adequate housing facilities, mental 
health support, and address other areas that contribute to veterans' 
homelessness, such as the homeless matters, enhancement of 
comprehensive services.
  Mr. Chairman, our veterans deserve the best service available, and I 
believe that we could do much for them. I know that in this particular 
appropriations bill there has been a standard of excellence to put our 
veterans first. Many other veterans are considered homeless or at-risk 
because of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and 
dismal living conditions. So that means the number of 107,000 goes up.
  Contrary to popular belief, ending homelessness among veterans 
remains a big challenge. My own city of Houston has its own share of 
homelessness.
  Let me take note of the homeless centers in my community: Salvation 
Army, Joshua House for Men, Magnificent House, Modest Family Health 
Care, Open Door Mission, Salvation Army, Harbor Light--of which I 
participate in their Thanksgiving ceremonies or Thanksgiving dinner 
almost every year that I have served in the United States Congress--
Star of Hope, Ultimate Changes, and my good friend Mr. Jones who is on 
Lyons Avenue who has a facility that opens its doors to anyone who will 
knock, a man who needs the resources that have been cut over the years.
  My amendment is to reinforce that, as this bill is passed, we will 
ensure that the provisions given to us under title III, section 301 
that emphasizes the utilization of facilities for veterans who happen 
to be homeless, all veterans, would not be diminished. That is at least 
our minimal responsibility--minimal responsibility.
  But as we approach this Memorial Day where we honor those who lost 
their lives, let us not leave their fellow brothers and sisters along 
the highway of despair.

                              {time}  1815

  On a personal note, let me indicate that as a member of the local 
elected government, for many years I used to participate in the 
standdown, where you got to talk and interact with our veterans. I can 
tell you firsthand the experience.
  Our veterans welcome our help and need our help, for they have helped 
this Nation.
  Mr. Chair, Thank you for this opportunity to describe my amendment, 
which simply provides that: ``None of the funds made available by this 
Act for the Department of Veteran Affairs--Benefits for Homeless 
Veterans and Training and Outreach Programs may be used in 
contravention of the title 38, Part II, Chapter 20, III of the U.S. 
Code.
  This amendment will help ensure that the rate of homelessness among 
veterans in the United States does not increase.
  I thank Subcommittee Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop for 
their hard work in shepherding this important legislation to the floor.
  I offer the Jackson Lee Amendment because I believe reducing and 
eliminating homelessness among veterans, those who risked their lives 
to protect our freedom, should also be one of the nation's highest 
priorities.
  Homelessness among the American veteran population is on the rise in 
the United States and we must be proactive in giving back to those who 
have given so much to us.
  My amendment will help remind us of our obligation to provide our 
veterans the assistance needed to avoid homelessness, which includes 
adequately funding for programs Veterans Administration Supportive 
Housing (VASH) that provide case-management services, adequate housing 
facilities, mental health support, and address other areas that 
contribute to veteran homelessness.
  VASH is a jointly-administered permanent supportive housing program 
for disabled Veterans experiencing homelessness in which VA medical 
Centers provide referrals and case management while Public Housing 
Agencies (PHAs) administer the Section 8 housing vouchers.
  Mr. Chair, our veterans deserve the best services available, and I 
believe that we could be doing much more for them.
  Today, in our country, there are approximately 107,000 veterans (male 
and female) who are homeless on any given night. And perhaps twice as 
many (200,000) experience homelessness at some point during the course 
of a year.
  Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk because 
of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and dismal 
living conditions in cheap hotels or in overcrowded or substandard 
housing.
  Contrary to popular belief, ending homelessness among veterans 
remains a big challenge.
  In my hometown of Houston for example, between the years 2010 and 
2012, the number of homeless veterans increased from 771 to 1,162.
  We must be vigilant and continue to fight for those who put on the 
uniform and fought for us.
  Providing a home for veterans to come home to every night is the very 
least we can do.
  Mr. Chair, you should know that programs like VASH have succeeded in 
changing lives. In 2012 alone, 35,905 veterans lived in the public 
housing provided by VASH.
  I have seen the impact of such grants in my home state of Texas, and 
within my congressional district in Houston, and I am sure that this 
funding has positively impacted many communities across this country.
  In Texas, there are committed groups in Houston, working to eradicate 
the issue of homelessness.
  For example, the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center has been 
involved in changing veterans' lives in a mighty way by providing 
Veterans and their families with access to affordable housing and 
medical services that will help them get back on their feet.
  Mr. Chair, we cannot let this issue of homelessness continue. I urge 
my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee Amendment and commit ourselves 
to the hard but necessary work of ending veteran homelessness in 
America.

                                                National Coalition


                                        for Homeless Veterans,

                                   Washington, DC, August 7, 2012.
         

Bill to Reauthorize, Improve Critical Homeless Veteran Programs Signed 
                                Into Law

       Washington.--In mid-July 2012, the U.S. Senate unanimously 
     passed H.R. 1627, the ``Honoring America's Veterans and 
     Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.'' As reported 
     by NCHV, (http://nchv.org/index.php/news/headlinearticle/
senate_unanimously passes_ bill_ to_ reauthorize_ improve_ 
     critical_ homeless_ Vet/). This bill would reauthorize and 
     improve several homeless veteran programs that are critical 
     to the success of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s 
     Five-Year Plan to End Veteran Homelessness. On July 31, the 
     U.S. House of Representatives proceeded to pass H.R. 1627, 
     and less than one week later, the bill was signed into law by 
     President Barack Obama.
       This bill represents a comprehensive agreement between both 
     parties in both the House and the Senate. NCHV's most recent 
     Congressional Leadership Award recipients

[[Page 6607]]

     (http://nchv.org/index.php/news/headline_ article/
     highlights_from_ the_ 2012_annual _conference/)--Rep. Jeff 
     Miller (R-FL), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs, and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Senate 
     of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs--were at the 
     center of this compromise.
       Throughout the 112th Congress, NCHV has regularly advised 
     the congressional committees of jurisdiction on the 
     provisions in H.R. 1627 that would greatly impact homeless 
     veteran assistance. Descriptions of these individual 
     provisions are provided below.
       For more information on H.R. 1627, visit the following 
     links:
       The full text of the bill can be downloaded here (http://
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1627eas/pdf/BILLS-
112hr1627eas.pdf) (PDF).
       The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs has set up a 
     webpage with a title-by-title overview of the bill and 
     supplementary information. This page can be accessed here 
     (http://veterans.house.gov/HR1627).


 H.R. 1627, ``Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune 
                         Families Act of 2012''

     Title II--Housing Matters

     Sec. 211. Modification of authorities for enhanced-use leases 
         of real property
       Authority for VA's Enhanced-Use Lease (EUL) program expired 
     on Dec. 31, 2011. This section provides a modified 
     reauthorization for the program. The VA Secretary may now 
     enter into a EUL ``only for the provision of supportive 
     housing,'' which is defined in the bill as ``housing that 
     engages tenants in on-site and community-based support 
     services for veterans or their families that are at risk of 
     homelessness or are homeless.''
     Title III--Homeless Matters

     Sec. 301. Enhancement of comprehensive service programs
       This section would allow Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program 
     capital grants to be used for the new construction of 
     facilities. Additionally, these applicants would be able to 
     use funding from other private or public sources, so long as 
     the applicant ``demonstrates that a private nonprofit 
     organization will provide oversight and site control for the 
     project.''
       Within one year, VA must also ``complete a study of all 
     matters relating to'' the GPD per diem payment method, as 
     well as develop a more effective and efficient method for 
     adequately reimbursing GPD capital grant recipients.
     Sec. 302. Modification of authority for provision of 
         treatment and rehabilitation to certain veterans to 
         include provision of treatment and rehabilitation to 
         homeless veterans who are not seriously mentally ill
       This section expands VA's authority to provide ``hospital, 
     nursing home, and domiciliary care'' (Title 38, section 1710, 
     U.S. Code). Current law only allows homeless veterans who are 
     suffering from serious mental illness to receive this care--
     H.R. 1627 will allow all homeless veterans to access these 
     services.
     Sec. 303. Modification of grant program for homeless veterans 
         with special needs
       This section expands the VA's Special Needs Grant Program 
     to organizations that are eligible for GPD funds. Current law 
     only allows existing GPD providers to receive Special Needs 
     grants.
       Additionally, male homeless veterans with minor dependents 
     would become eligible for services through the Special Needs 
     Grant Program. Current law restricts these services to women 
     veterans with minor dependents. H.R. 1627 authorizes these 
     dependents to directly receive services through the program.
     Sec. 304. Collaboration in provision of case management 
         services to homeless veterans in supported housing 
         program
       This section states that the VA Secretary ``shall consider 
     entering into contracts or agreements'' with eligible 
     organizations to help provide case management through the 
     HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program. Training and 
     technical assistance may be provided to help facilitate these 
     efforts.
       Within a year and a half of H.R. 1627's enactment, VA must 
     report to Congress on this collaboration.
     Sec. 305. Extensions of previously fully funded authorities 
         affecting homeless veterans
       This section reauthorizes programs that are critical to the 
     success of the Five-Year Plan to End Veteran Homelessness:
       The Grant and Per Diem Program is reauthorized at $250 
     million for FY 2013--the same level at which it is currently 
     authorized.
       The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP), 
     administered by the Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment 
     and Training Service (DOL-VETS), is reauthorized at $50 
     million for FY 2013--the same level at which it is currently 
     authorized.
       The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program 
     is reauthorized at $300 million for FY 2013--$200 million 
     above the level at which it is currently authorized.
       The Special Needs Grant Program is reauthorized at $5 
     million for FY 2013--the same level at which it is currently 
     authorized.
       For more information on policy and legislative issues that 
     affect homeless veteran service providers, visit http://
nchv.org/index.php/policy/ (http://nchv.org/index.php/
 policy/).

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Seeing no other speakers, the question is on the 
amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Amendment Offered by Mr. Farenthold

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 to pay the salary of any officer or employee of the 
     Federal Government with respect to whom the President of the 
     Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives has 
     certified a statement of facts to a United States attorney 
     under section 104 of the Revised Statutes (2 U.S.C. 194).

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
  The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
  The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. This amendment actually implements what I have 
proposed in H.R. 4447, which is that any employee of the Federal 
Government--in this case, we are limiting it to the subject of this 
appropriations bill--not be paid if they have been held in contempt of 
Congress.
  We have seen, unfortunately, that even though we have held Eric 
Holder in contempt of Congress, the Justice Department has failed to 
pursue that, and we are delayed on the civil contempt in the court 
system.
  What I am trying to do here is put a little teeth into contempt of 
Congress, using the power of the purse.
  The Constitution gives this body the power to decide how the Federal 
Government spends their money. And if somebody is in contempt of this 
body, they should not be paid. If you are in contempt of your employer 
in the private sector, most likely you are going to be unemployed and 
not get your paycheck.
  I intend to offer this amendment for all the appropriations bills as 
a way to possibly get it through the Senate, where nothing is 
happening.
  It is critically important that we do this in the Veterans Affairs 
appropriations bill because as we begin to investigate the horrifying 
allegations of secret waiting lists and folks dying because they are 
not getting timely treatment in the VA, it is certain there is going to 
be a congressional investigation. We need all the tools we have in our 
tool chest to get to the bottom of this and make sure people cooperate 
and make sure people testify.
  We have seen time and time again where various investigations, be it 
Lois Lerner, whatever, that we are not getting cooperation from this 
administration. The contempt power and putting some teeth into it is 
one way we can do that.
  So I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this commonsense 
amendment that doesn't pay people who don't cooperate with Congress. We 
have the power of the purse. We need to use it. We very possibly may 
need to use it for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of 
some of the things that they appear to be up to.
  I yield back the balance of my time.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against 
the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and 
constitutes legislation in an appropriation bill and, therefore, 
violates clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The rule states, in pertinent part:
  ``An amendment to a general appropriation bill shall not be in order 
if changing existing law.''
  The amendment imposes additional duties or requires a new 
determination.
  Mr. Chairman, I ask for a ruling from the Chair.
  The Acting CHAIR. Does any other Member wish to be heard on the point 
of order?
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. I would like to address the point of order.

[[Page 6608]]

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Chair, it is my belief that this puts no other 
duty on anyone. Someone being found in contempt of Congress is 
something that is widely publicized. And as all people are charged with 
knowing what the law is, it seems common sense that the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, if it had a member subject to contempt, would know 
that that person is in contempt.
  We are not asking anybody to do anything else, other than not pay 
somebody who is in contempt of Congress.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair is prepared to rule.
  The Chair finds that this amendment imposes new duties on the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to track the status of certain 
certifications.
  The amendment, therefore, constitutes legislation in violation of 
clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The point of order is sustained, and the amendment is not in order.


              Amendment Offered by Mr. Peters of Michigan

  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the 
desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 for a contract that includes first-class travel by 
     the contractor.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, as of Monday, there were 
596,061 veterans waiting for their claims to be processed by the 
Veterans Administration. More than half of these claims have been 
pending for more than 125 days.
  This is outrageous and simply unacceptable. We are failing our 
veterans who have put their lives on the line for this Nation and rely 
on services at the VA for their health care and other benefits upon 
retirement.
  As a former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, I am 
extremely disappointed with the inability to eliminate the paperwork 
backlog at the Veterans Administration. The men and women who have 
served our country honorably, and their families, deserve so much 
better.
  In my home State of Michigan at the Detroit Regional Veterans 
Administration Office almost 49 percent of claims have been pending for 
more than 125 days. While this number may seem high, it is actually 
lower than the combined national average, where 53 percent of claims 
have been pending for more than 125 days.
  It is unacceptable that, as hundreds and thousands of veterans wait 
months to have these essential benefits processed, government 
contractors are able to use taxpayer dollars to purchase first-class 
travel. There is no way to justify spending on luxury travel for 
contractors while the VA is dealing with months-long backlogs. It just 
doesn't make sense.
  Mr. Chairman, this is why I am putting forward a simple amendment 
barring the use of funds in this bill to be spent on first-class travel 
for government contractors.
  I believe this amendment sends an important message that Congress, 
the administration, and contractors are accountable to American 
taxpayers. This amendment is about making efficient use of taxpayer 
dollars and reducing wasteful government spending. Federal contractors 
simply should not be using Federal tax dollars on first-class flights.
  I ask my colleagues to stand with me and support this commonsense 
amendment. Let us send a strong message to our veterans and other 
constituents about our priorities as we work on behalf of them here in 
Washington.
  Please support this amendment which will bring further accountability 
and fiscal sensibility to our government.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Peters).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Nunes

  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 for the closure or abandonment of any facility 
     located at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Chairman, first, I would like to thank the chairman 
and ranking member for their support of this amendment. And I will be 
very quick here.
  This base is a very important location for us in the middle of the 
Atlantic. Over the last decade, we have invested about $150 million 
into the infrastructure there.
  Now the Air Force is talking about actually tearing down facilities 
there. It is starting to spend money to tear it down.
  This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, nor does it to the Congress, 
because last Congress, both in the NDAA and in the Defense 
Appropriations bills, the Congress said very specifically that this was 
a facility that needed to be used. The military needed to figure out a 
use for it. They were not to draw down the forces there.
  Instead, the Air Force continues to ignore the Congress, so much so 
that now they want to use funds to tear down facilities.
  This is a complete rejection of, I think, Congress' prerogative and 
Congress' intent of the laws from last year. So now we have to go into 
the Military Construction Appropriations bill to make sure that we hold 
people accountable.
  I would say that this is, I think, just a placeholder. Because when 
you start to look at the money that has been spent over the last 10 
years--as I said, $150 million--if this is something the Air Force 
didn't want, then I think it is time for to ask for the GAO to come in 
and really study who it was that did the planning to spend the $150 
million in first place, and possibly even an IG investigation.
  I look forward to working with the chairman and the ranking member, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Seeing no additional speakers, the question is on 
the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                   Amendment Offered by Mrs. Walorski

  Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 implement 
     sole source contracting at the national level for the 
     selection of devices and test strips for the self-monitoring 
     of blood glucose.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Indiana is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. WALORSKI. Thank you, Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member 
Bishop, for your assistance with this amendment.
  I rise to offer an amendment that will protect veterans with 
diabetes.
  Specifically, this amendment will ensure the VA continues to offer 
diabetes patients a variety of glucose monitoring supplies through the 
competitive bid process.
  Mr. Chairman, almost 25 percent of veterans in the VA health care 
system have diabetes, compared to about 8.3 percent of the general 
public. As a result, diabetes care places a significant cost burden on 
the VA's budget, accounting for almost 4 percent of the overall VA 
health care budget and costing almost $1.5 billion annually.
  Presently, each of the 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks, or 
VISNs, competitively bid for monitoring devices and test strips. This 
competition is good for the patient, and it is good for the 
marketplace, allowing the VA to utilize significant purchasing power. 
Because of this competition and the

[[Page 6609]]

competition in the non-VA market, vendors are pushed to reduce costs 
and to innovate.
  VA physicians rely upon the patient to be a partner in disease 
management and treatment. Therefore, it is critical for patients and 
caregivers to be comfortable with the devices they use so they can best 
monitor the disease, resulting in better health outcomes.
  As a member of the VA Committee, I learned recently the Department of 
Veterans Affairs is actively considering a national contract with a 
single provider for diabetic supplies. While this may sound like a good 
idea initially, both the House and the Senate, under the leadership of 
both Democrats and Republicans, have consistently agreed this is not 
prudent.
  Sole sourcing could dramatically increase costs and deny patients the 
ability to use devices they are most comfortable with. The cost to 
reeducate and retrain patients and caregivers throughout the VA 
population would be significant.
  Finally, because of the size of the VA diabetes population, a sole-
source contract would likely reduce the number of vendors for future 
competitive contracts and also reduce innovation.
  I urge my colleagues to support passage of this commonsense 
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Collins of Georgia). The question is on the 
amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                     Amendment Offered by Mrs. Noem

  Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read 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 to prepare an environmental impact statement in 
     accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
     (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to a health care 
     facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs that is--
       (1) designated as a National Historic Landmark by the 
     National Park Service; and
       (2) located in a highly rural area.

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from South Dakota is recognized for 
5 minutes.

                              {time}  1830

  Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, as you may know, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs manages thousands of historically significant parties, and 
according to a recently released study and report by the National Trust 
for Historic Preservation, the VA has a track record for neglecting 
these national treasures.
  By neglecting these properties, veterans in South Dakota and across 
the country have suffered by creating obstacles, so veterans can't gain 
access to health care. Many of them have to travel many, many hours for 
just a simple checkup.
  My amendment is very simple and straightforward. It protects rural 
veterans access to health care by ensuring that no funds will go 
towards closing rural hospitals in high-need areas that are designated 
as national historic landmarks.
  Reports have shown that the VA needs to pay more attention to these 
national landmarks it is entrusted with and focus on the veterans that 
these facilities serve. I urge my colleagues to support this 
commonsense amendment.
  I want to thank the chairman, ranking member, and the committee staff 
for helping me offer it today, and I ask for your support.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                    ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIR

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, proceedings 
will now resume on those amendments on which further proceedings were 
postponed in the following order:
  Amendment No. 5 by Mr. Moran of Virginia.
  An amendment by Mr. Blumenauer of Oregon.
  The Chair will reduce to 2 minutes the time for any electronic vote 
after the first vote in this series.


                  Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Moran

  The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a 
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Moran) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which 
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 168, 
noes 249, not voting 14, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 185]

                               AYES--168

     Amash
     Bass
     Beatty
     Becerra
     Bera (CA)
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Bonamici
     Brady (PA)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown (FL)
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardenas
     Carney
     Carson (IN)
     Cartwright
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Courtney
     Crowley
     Cummings
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Danny
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delaney
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle
     Duckworth
     Duncan (TN)
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Esty
     Farr
     Fattah
     Foster
     Frankel (FL)
     Fudge
     Gabbard
     Garamendi
     Gibson
     Grayson
     Green, Al
     Hahn
     Hanabusa
     Hastings (FL)
     Heck (WA)
     Higgins
     Himes
     Holt
     Honda
     Horsford
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Israel
     Jackson Lee
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kind
     Kuster
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee (CA)
     Levin
     Loebsack
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lujan Grisham (NM)
     Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
     Lynch
     Maloney, Carolyn
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McDermott
     McGovern
     Meeks
     Meng
     Michaud
     Miller, George
     Moore
     Moran
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Nolan
     O'Rourke
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor (AZ)
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Peters (CA)
     Pingree (ME)
     Pocan
     Polis
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Rangel
     Roybal-Allard
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanford
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sherman
     Sires
     Slaughter
     Smith (WA)
     Speier
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Titus
     Tonko
     Tsongas
     Van Hollen
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walz
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Waxman
     Welch
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                               NOES--249

     Aderholt
     Amodei
     Bachus
     Barber
     Barletta
     Barr
     Barrow (GA)
     Barton
     Benishek
     Bentivolio
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Black
     Blackburn
     Boustany
     Bridenstine
     Brooks (AL)
     Brooks (IN)
     Broun (GA)
     Brownley (CA)
     Buchanan
     Bucshon
     Burgess
     Byrne
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carter
     Cassidy
     Chabot
     Chaffetz
     Coble
     Coffman
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (NY)
     Conaway
     Cook
     Cotton
     Cramer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Daines
     Davis, Rodney
     Denham
     Dent
     DeSantis
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Duffy
     Duncan (SC)
     Ellmers
     Farenthold
     Fincher
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fleming
     Flores
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallego
     Garcia
     Gardner
     Garrett
     Gerlach
     Gibbs
     Gingrey (GA)
     Gohmert
     Goodlatte
     Gosar
     Gowdy
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (MO)
     Griffith (VA)
     Grijalva
     Grimm
     Guthrie
     Hall
     Hanna
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Hastings (WA)
     Heck (NV)
     Hensarling
     Herrera Beutler
     Holding
     Hudson
     Huelskamp
     Huizenga (MI)
     Hultgren
     Hunter
     Hurt
     Issa
     Jenkins
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jolly
     Jones
     Jordan
     Joyce
     Kelly (PA)
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kinzinger (IL)
     Kirkpatrick
     Kline
     Labrador
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Lance
     Lankford
     Latham
     Latta
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Long
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Lummis
     Maffei
     Maloney, Sean
     Marchant
     Marino
     Massie
     Matheson
     McAllister
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinley
     McMorris Rodgers

[[Page 6610]]


     McNerney
     Meadows
     Meehan
     Messer
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Mullin
     Mulvaney
     Murphy (FL)
     Murphy (PA)
     Negrete McLeod
     Neugebauer
     Noem
     Nugent
     Nunes
     Olson
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Paulsen
     Pearce
     Perry
     Peters (MI)
     Peterson
     Petri
     Pittenger
     Pitts
     Poe (TX)
     Pompeo
     Posey
     Price (GA)
     Rahall
     Reed
     Reichert
     Renacci
     Ribble
     Rice (SC)
     Rigell
     Roby
     Roe (TN)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Rokita
     Rooney
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothfus
     Royce
     Ruiz
     Runyan
     Ruppersberger
     Ryan (WI)
     Salmon
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Scalise
     Schock
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Scott, David
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Sewell (AL)
     Shea-Porter
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sinema
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Southerland
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Stutzman
     Terry
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Tiberi
     Tipton
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Vela
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walorski
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westmoreland
     Williams
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Wolf
     Womack
     Woodall
     Yoder
     Yoho
     Young (AK)
     Young (IN)

                             NOT VOTING--14

     Bachmann
     Brady (TX)
     Enyart
     Green, Gene
     Griffin (AR)
     Gutierrez
     Harper
     Hinojosa
     Lewis
     Nunnelee
     Richmond
     Schwartz
     Stockman
     Whitfield

                              {time}  1901

  Messrs. RUPPERSBERGER, BRIDENSTINE, COBLE, COFFMAN, RIGELL, AMODEI, 
and Mrs. CAPITO changed their vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
  Mr. ISRAEL changed his vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
  So the amendment was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  Stated for:
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 185, had I been 
present, I would have voted ``yes.''
  (By unanimous consent, Mr. Crawford was allowed to speak out of 
order.)


    Moment of Silence to Honor the Victims of the Devastating Storms

  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be joined here by my 
colleagues from Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Alabama, and the 
States that have been impacted by the devastating storms that occurred 
earlier this week.
  While we had hoped that the entire Mississippi and Arkansas 
delegations could join us, Representatives Gregg Harper and Alan 
Nunnelee from Mississippi, and Representative Tim Griffin from Arkansas 
are back home today coordinating with Federal, State, and local 
officials who are organizing disaster assistance efforts. Tomorrow, 
Representative Griffin will be touring the devastation in Arkansas' 
Second District with Secretary Johnson from the Department of Homeland 
Security.
  All these delegations have spent hours keeping in close contact with 
one another and with officials in Arkansas, in particular, regarding 
the tornado that ripped through Vilonia, Mayflower, El Paso, and Paron, 
leaving a path of destruction in central Arkansas. And the same is true 
for other affected States.
  The destruction we have witnessed is heartbreaking, and our prayers 
go out to all those affected by all these devastating storms, 
especially those who lost loved ones.
  Our delegations would like to thank the first responders, volunteers, 
and neighboring communities for all of their assistance, donations, 
prayers, and tireless efforts during this difficult time. Their hard 
work and dedication has saved lives.
  We also urge those who can to continue to help in any way they can to 
assist in the recovery and rebuilding of the neighborhoods and 
communities that were impacted by these storms.
  We also honor and remember those we lost, and Representative Griffin 
asked that I share a story of one of his constituents, U.S. Air Force 
Master Sergeant Daniel Wassom, who served as a loadmaster instructor 
with the 189th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base.
  Master Sergeant Wassom lived in Vilonia, Arkansas, with his wife, 
Suzanne, and his two young daughters. According to reports, Master 
Sergeant Wassom sacrificed his own life to shield his 5-year-old 
daughter from falling debris. His example of selflessness and bravery 
during this disaster is one all Americans and Arkansans can admire.
  I now ask for a moment of silent prayer to honor all the victims of 
those recent tragic events.


                  Amendment Offered by Mr. Blumenauer

  The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, 2-minute voting will continue.
  There was no objection.
  The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a 
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Oregon 
(Mr. Blumenauer) on which further proceedings were postponed and on 
which the noes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 195, 
noes 222, not voting 14, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 186]

                               AYES--195

     Amash
     Beatty
     Becerra
     Benishek
     Bera (CA)
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Bonamici
     Brady (PA)
     Braley (IA)
     Brooks (AL)
     Broun (GA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brownley (CA)
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardenas
     Carney
     Carson (IN)
     Cartwright
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Collins (NY)
     Connolly
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Courtney
     Crowley
     Cummings
     Daines
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Danny
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delaney
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle
     Duckworth
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Esty
     Farr
     Fattah
     Foster
     Frankel (FL)
     Fudge
     Gabbard
     Garamendi
     Garcia
     Grayson
     Green, Al
     Grijalva
     Hahn
     Hanabusa
     Hanna
     Hastings (FL)
     Heck (NV)
     Heck (WA)
     Higgins
     Himes
     Holt
     Honda
     Horsford
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Hunter
     Israel
     Jackson Lee
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Jones
     Kaptur
     Kelly (IL)
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kind
     Kuster
     Langevin
     Larson (CT)
     Lee (CA)
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lujan Grisham (NM)
     Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
     Lynch
     Maffei
     Maloney, Carolyn
     Maloney, Sean
     Massie
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McClintock
     McCollum
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Michaud
     Miller, George
     Moore
     Moran
     Mulvaney
     Murphy (FL)
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Negrete McLeod
     Nolan
     O'Rourke
     Owens
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor (AZ)
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Peters (CA)
     Peters (MI)
     Pingree (ME)
     Pocan
     Polis
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Rangel
     Reed
     Rigell
     Rohrabacher
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sanford
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Sinema
     Sires
     Slaughter
     Smith (WA)
     Speier
     Stivers
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Titus
     Tonko
     Tsongas
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walz
     Waters
     Waxman
     Welch
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth
     Young (AK)

                               NOES--222

     Aderholt
     Amodei
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Barber
     Barletta
     Barr
     Barrow (GA)
     Barton
     Bentivolio
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Black
     Blackburn
     Boustany
     Bridenstine
     Brooks (IN)
     Buchanan
     Bucshon
     Burgess
     Byrne
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carter
     Cassidy
     Chabot
     Chaffetz
     Coble
     Coffman
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Conaway
     Cook
     Cotton
     Cramer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Davis, Rodney
     Denham
     Dent
     DeSantis
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Duffy
     Duncan (SC)
     Duncan (TN)
     Ellmers
     Farenthold
     Fincher
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fleming
     Flores
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallego
     Gardner
     Garrett
     Gerlach
     Gibbs
     Gibson
     Gingrey (GA)
     Gohmert
     Goodlatte
     Gosar
     Gowdy
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (MO)
     Griffith (VA)
     Grimm
     Guthrie
     Hall
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Hastings (WA)
     Hensarling
     Herrera Beutler
     Holding

[[Page 6611]]


     Hudson
     Huelskamp
     Huizenga (MI)
     Hultgren
     Hurt
     Issa
     Jenkins
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jolly
     Jordan
     Joyce
     Keating
     Kelly (PA)
     Kennedy
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kinzinger (IL)
     Kirkpatrick
     Kline
     Labrador
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Lance
     Lankford
     Larsen (WA)
     Latham
     Latta
     Levin
     Lipinski
     Long
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Lummis
     Marchant
     Marino
     Matheson
     McAllister
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul
     McHenry
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinley
     McMorris Rodgers
     Meadows
     Meehan
     Messer
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Mullin
     Murphy (PA)
     Neugebauer
     Noem
     Nugent
     Nunes
     Olson
     Palazzo
     Paulsen
     Pearce
     Perry
     Peterson
     Petri
     Pittenger
     Pitts
     Poe (TX)
     Pompeo
     Posey
     Price (GA)
     Rahall
     Reichert
     Renacci
     Ribble
     Rice (SC)
     Roby
     Roe (TN)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rokita
     Rooney
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothfus
     Royce
     Runyan
     Ryan (WI)
     Salmon
     Scalise
     Schock
     Scott, Austin
     Scott, David
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Sewell (AL)
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Southerland
     Stewart
     Stutzman
     Terry
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Tiberi
     Tipton
     Turner
     Valadao
     Vela
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walorski
     Wasserman Schultz
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westmoreland
     Williams
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Wolf
     Womack
     Woodall
     Yoder
     Yoho
     Young (IN)

                             NOT VOTING--14

     Bass
     Brady (TX)
     Enyart
     Green, Gene
     Griffin (AR)
     Gutierrez
     Harper
     Hinojosa
     Lewis
     Nunnelee
     Richmond
     Schwartz
     Stockman
     Whitfield


                    Announcement by the Acting Chair

  The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.

                              {time}  1912

  So the amendment was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will read the remainder of the bill.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction and 
     Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
     2015''.

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise 
and report the bill back to the House with sundry amendments, and with 
the recommendation that the amendments be agreed to and that the bill, 
as amended, do pass.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Holding) having assumed the chair, Mr. Collins of Georgia, 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. 
4486) making appropriations for military construction, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2015, and for other purposes, directed him to report the 
bill back to the House with sundry amendments adopted in the Committee 
of the Whole, with the recommendation that the amendments be agreed to 
and that the bill, as amended, do pass.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under House Resolution 557, the previous 
question is ordered.
  Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment reported from the 
Committee of the Whole? If not, the Chair will put them en gros.
  The amendments were agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third 
reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  Under clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  This is a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 416, 
nays 1, not voting 14, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 187]

                               YEAS--416

     Aderholt
     Amash
     Amodei
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Barber
     Barletta
     Barr
     Barrow (GA)
     Barton
     Bass
     Beatty
     Becerra
     Benishek
     Bentivolio
     Bera (CA)
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Black
     Blackburn
     Blumenauer
     Bonamici
     Boustany
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Bridenstine
     Brooks (AL)
     Brooks (IN)
     Broun (GA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brownley (CA)
     Buchanan
     Bucshon
     Burgess
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Byrne
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardenas
     Carney
     Carson (IN)
     Carter
     Cartwright
     Cassidy
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chabot
     Chaffetz
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coffman
     Cohen
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (NY)
     Conaway
     Connolly
     Conyers
     Cook
     Cooper
     Costa
     Cotton
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Daines
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Danny
     Davis, Rodney
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delaney
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Denham
     Dent
     DeSantis
     DesJarlais
     Deutch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle
     Duckworth
     Duffy
     Duncan (SC)
     Duncan (TN)
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellmers
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Esty
     Farenthold
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fincher
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fleming
     Flores
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Foster
     Foxx
     Frankel (FL)
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Fudge
     Gabbard
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia
     Gardner
     Garrett
     Gerlach
     Gibbs
     Gibson
     Gohmert
     Goodlatte
     Gosar
     Gowdy
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (MO)
     Grayson
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Griffith (VA)
     Grijalva
     Grimm
     Guthrie
     Hahn
     Hall
     Hanabusa
     Hanna
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Heck (NV)
     Heck (WA)
     Hensarling
     Herrera Beutler
     Higgins
     Himes
     Holding
     Holt
     Honda
     Horsford
     Hoyer
     Hudson
     Huelskamp
     Huffman
     Huizenga (MI)
     Hultgren
     Hunter
     Hurt
     Israel
     Issa
     Jackson Lee
     Jeffries
     Jenkins
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jolly
     Jones
     Jordan
     Joyce
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kinzinger (IL)
     Kirkpatrick
     Kline
     Kuster
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Lance
     Langevin
     Lankford
     Larsen (WA)
     Latham
     Latta
     Lee (CA)
     Levin
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren
     Long
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Lujan Grisham (NM)
     Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
     Lummis
     Lynch
     Maffei
     Maloney, Carolyn
     Maloney, Sean
     Marchant
     Marino
     Massie
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McAllister
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCaul
     McClintock
     McCollum
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinley
     McMorris Rodgers
     McNerney
     Meadows
     Meehan
     Meeks
     Meng
     Messer
     Mica
     Michaud
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Miller, George
     Moore
     Moran
     Mullin
     Mulvaney
     Murphy (FL)
     Murphy (PA)
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Negrete McLeod
     Neugebauer
     Noem
     Nolan
     Nugent
     Nunes
     O'Rourke
     Olson
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor (AZ)
     Paulsen
     Payne
     Pearce
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Perry
     Peters (CA)
     Peters (MI)
     Peterson
     Petri
     Pingree (ME)
     Pittenger
     Pitts
     Pocan
     Poe (TX)
     Polis
     Pompeo
     Posey
     Price (GA)
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Reed
     Reichert
     Renacci
     Ribble
     Rice (SC)
     Rigell
     Roby
     Roe (TN)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Rokita
     Rooney
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothfus
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Ruiz
     Runyan
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Ryan (WI)
     Salmon
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sanford
     Sarbanes
     Scalise
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schock
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, Austin
     Scott, David
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Sewell (AL)
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sinema
     Sires
     Slaughter
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Southerland
     Speier
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Stutzman
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Terry
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Tipton
     Titus
     Tonko
     Tsongas
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Hollen
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walorski
     Walz
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Waxman
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Welch
     Wenstrup
     Westmoreland
     Williams
     Wilson (FL)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Wolf
     Womack
     Woodall
     Yarmuth
     Yoder
     Yoho
     Young (AK)
     Young (IN)

                                NAYS--1

       
     Labrador
       

                             NOT VOTING--14

     Braley (IA)
     Enyart
     Gingrey (GA)
     Griffin (AR)
     Gutierrez
     Harper
     Hinojosa
     Larson (CT)

[[Page 6612]]


     Lewis
     Nunnelee
     Richmond
     Schwartz
     Stockman
     Whitfield

                              {time}  1921

  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________