House Proceeding 07-31-08 on Jul 31st, 2008 :: 3:30:20 to 3:50:20
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3:26:24 to 3:30:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Lee Terry

3:30:02 to 3:30:20( Edit History Discussion )

Lee Terry: to be heard on this point of order? mr. buyer: i would like to speake to the point of order. nt the chairma n: the gentleman is recognized. mr. buyer: it's sad that it would be kicked out.

3:30:20 to 3:31:00( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: let me go to the point of order. p the amendment refers to section title 38 u.s. code section 8103, provides v.a. the authority to or construct, quote construct, end quote, and quote, alter, end

3:30:20 to 3:32:18( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Chet Edwards

3:31:13 to 3:31:25( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: quote. you can see that in the first line. 8103 a-1, may construct or alter any medical facility. y. now it's any medical facility as the se cretary considers necessary for use of the site. section

3:31:25 to 3:31:47( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: 8103 defines the term alter with respwect to medical facility means to repair, re remodel, improve or extend. so this section 8103 is general authority, spethcific authority would come u

3:31:47 to 3:32:02( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: nder -- and this is minor construction. so under general authority,ge the secretary has great discretion with regard to specific authority, would come under om section 8104. that would b e designations of

3:32:02 to 3:32:18( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: c on box, anything above $10 million comes under se ction 8104. when i r efer to -- and this is nd what the parliamentarian -- the house practice guuside. the guide to the rules, he precedents

3:32:18 to 3:32:37( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: and procedures of the house. so when i go to page 84, theth authorization from specific statutes in this paragraph, mr. chairman, so this ians page 84 and it's titled u tnder authorization from

3:32:18 to 3:39:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jeb Hensarling

3:32:37 to 3:32:54( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: specific statutes or general existing law. so what i have done is referred rr to the general law,he not the specific, this is the general law. authorization for a program may be derived from

3:32:54 to 3:33:10( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: a specific law providing authoriprty for that particular program or from a more general exi sting law, which means organic law, where e authorizingor appropriations for ti such progr ams. so

3:33:10 to 3:33:26( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: what's happened over t'the years, it's like the armedme services committee, mr. chairman, we don'tch bring that annual v.a. authorization bill. so what's happened over the decades, mr. chairman, we have

3:33:26 to 3:33:38( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: always relied on the 8103 ass the general authority provision. now, if you sa y, steve, when you look at this amendmeoknt -- wh wen en you look at the amendment, t, because you don't put v.a.

3:33:38 to 3:33:59( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: facility at the end, well, then,he we might interpret that as applications to all other -- here we go -- to all other ll sections. ct mr. chairman, taihat's why i said, the mistake that

3:33:59 to 3:34:20( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: was made was is that all of these other sections don't even apply to solar. only one of these sections would apply solar, and ty hat is the medical facility section and that is the 8103. so

3:34:20 to 3:34:33( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: my appeal to you is, by putting the solar amendment here at the end of the paragraph, there's only one section here that it applies and that is is section 8103. 81 so authori zation -- when the

3:34:33 to 3:34:50( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: chairman said, waicht a minute, you don't have the authorization, i would appeal tol the chair that general authority exists within the minor n construction statute for us to do this. and that

3:34:50 to 3:35:08( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: would be my argument on the point of order. the chairman: does any other member wish to be heard?is mr. edwards: mr. chairman, i just say briefly, i think the chair has receiv ed plenty of

3:35:08 to 3:35:24( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: advice and i would like to ask once again for a ruling. the chairman: the chair is proposed to rule. the proponent carriesnt the burdehen of persuasion on the question of whether it is supported

3:35:24 to 3:35:37( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: by an authorization in law. having reviewed the amendnt and entertained argument on both parties on the point of oonrder, the chair is unable to conclude that t he item in question is

3:35:37 to 3:35:55( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: authorized in law,au specifically the amendment is not confined to medical facilities. the chair is therefore constrained to sustain the point of order offered by the gentleman from texas

3:35:55 to 3:36:13( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: under clause rule 2-a of rule 21. for what purpose does gentleman rise? mr. buyer: givenhe. ruling which you have just made, it would almost mean that what we're going to put sinolars onon

3:36:13 to 3:36:29( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: tombstones? i appeal the ruling of the chair. i move to appeal the ruling of the chair. mr. buyer: i will withdraw my motion to appeal the rulingap and i will take the matter up with the

3:36:29 to 3:36:41( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: secretary. and i will get solar for v.a. medical facilities. the chairman: the withdrawn.wn the clerk: page 41, line 15, extended care for medical c faciliti es, $165 million. grants -- the chairman:

3:36:41 to 3:36:56( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: for what purpose does the gentlelady from texas rise? mr. edwards: i ask that remainder of section 2 be considered read and open to amendment at any point. the chairman: is there objection?

3:36:56 to 3:37:10( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: without objection, so ordered. are there any amendments? >> point of inquiry. mr. wamp: could you restate hulow far you have read? the chairman: page 51, line 11. mr. wamp: no objection. the chairman:

3:37:10 to 3:37:28( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: are there any amenents? the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 9 printed in the congressional record offered by ms. jackson lee of texas. the chairman: fo r what purpose

3:37:28 to 3:37:40( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: se does the gentleman from texas rise? mr. edwards: mr. chairman, i reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's amendment. the chairman: the the gentlewoman fr om texas is recognized. ms.

3:37:40 to 3:37:54( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: jackson lee: i rise to offer and withdraw an amendment on this particu lar bill. the amendment has to do with the secretasery of veterans affairs calling upon them to increase the number of

3:37:54 to 3:38:13( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: medical centers specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder in underserved urban areas which shall include using the services of existing health care entities pthursuant to the authority in

3:38:13 to 3:38:31( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: section 1703. this particular amendment has toam do with ensuring the cooperation with existing health care institutions used by the secretary pursuant to osubsection a. i would like to see these

3:38:31 to 3:38:50( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: th faciliti es located in an area n defined as a hub zone and as well in an are a that covers rural areas. i'd like to see, according t to my amendment, that these facilities would be located within

3:38:50 to 3:39:10( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: a stocate that has sustained more than 5% of the total casualties suffered by the united states armed forces in operation enduring freedom and eeoperation iraqi freedom. i'm very pleased that

3:39:10 to 3:39:31( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: unde pr the leadership of chairman edwards, long-standing leadership that the legislation that we have before us includes more dollars for mental health and substance abuse and as well, some s $3.8

3:39:10 to 3:41:53( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Gene Taylor

3:39:31 to 3:39:51( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: billion and also it includes $200 million to include fee-based servicesba in the system. $5 billion for medical facilities and $165 million for extended care. my amendment was to recognize

3:39:51 to 3:40:07( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: co the plain facts of ce ombat as we have seen more and more soldiers coming back from iraq and afghanistan wounded not only physically, but mentally. ly most of these so ldiers have seen 94% of the soldiers

3:40:07 to 3:40:21( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: in iraq have reported receivipong small arms fire. 86% of soldiers in iraq reported knowing someone who has seriously injured.re some similar numrs we are seeing in afghanistan because we have s een

3:40:21 to 3:40:38( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: an increased amount of combat in afghanistambn. my concern is to ensure that we have the right kind of facilities for our soldiers thats are returning. i offered this amendment becauseme i thought

3:40:38 to 3:40:55( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: it was important to nt include hospitals like riverside general hospital the only historical ly black hospital i pi believe remaining in the hospital founded by world war ii veterans or family

3:40:55 to 3:41:08( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: of a world war ii soldier. a and as we move toward the conference, since this amendmentth is now bei ng withdrawn as i a conclude my remarks, i am hoping that we will be able to work o with the

3:41:08 to 3:41:24( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: committee and ensure that we have the opportunity to make this work. t i would like t o yield to the he chairman and if i could. . i'd like to yield to the gentleman about the amendment en that

3:41:24 to 3:41:38( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: i have that hasat to do with providing post traumova stress disorder facilities -- post traumatic stress disorder facilities. fa i think thk is is a good amendment. i am o ffering and withdrawing

3:41:38 to 3:41:53( Edit History Discussion )

Gene Taylor: it in cooperation with the committee. i won't go down to 1600 t pennsylvania and work with the white house. but i would like to work with ke this committee and this chairman and thank him

3:41:53 to 3:42:10( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: for his leadership as well as cha irman filner, who , has been more than powerful, if you will, on the issues of veterans, but this hteas to do with putting these facilities in historically

3:41:53 to 3:44:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Michael T. McCaul

3:42:10 to 3:42:29( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: unicderserved areas and as i indicated to you, riverside hospital has an initial grant. we're having some diffngiculty in making sure they get their money from last time but omi think we need

3:42:29 to 3:42:44( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: more of thesene facilities. let me yield to the gementleman. mr. edwards: i want to thank the gentlewoman from texas. my colleague. my she has been a chashmpion for fighting for more funding in theor

3:42:44 to 3:43:00( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: v.a. for mental heala.th care services for our veterans. and because of thatus and that support of others in this house, she has been a real leader in this effort. we will have addedl $900 million

3:43:00 to 3:43:16( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: above the last year ovfunding level for specialty mental health care servichees for our veterans. . the v.a. will have a great deal ve of discretion in how to spend that money and i wouatld

3:43:16 to 3:43:31( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: imagine the importance of the v.a. health care center in houston and the number of veterans there that it should be thone of the beneficiaries of this funding and i know because of this being

3:43:31 to 3:43:46( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: an appropriation bilprl, there were techn ical reasons why there was a point of order, potentially lodged against this st amendment. but th at point of order will not keep us from working closely

3:43:46 to 3:44:00( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: together to fulfiltol your goal ofof seeing that we have first classir quality ment al health care services for veterans and underserved areas and urban areas across our country. ms. jackson le if i

3:44:00 to 3:44:18( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: could reclaim my time and say that the u nderpinnings of this amendinment has to do with existing satel lite facilities such as river side hospital that could be in collaboration.n i would be very grateful

3:44:18 to 3:44:35( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: if i could work with the chairman in e the full committee and i want tot acknowledge the chairman of the full committee in lolloking at that as whether or not we can at least ensure that those facilities

3:44:35 to 3:44:48( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: will be looked at. i yield back to the gentleman. mr. edwa rds: we look forward to that at ms. jackson lee: i thank you very much. i ask again, mr. chairman, i wanted to ma ke sure i was

3:44:48 to 3:45:02( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: calling on, i ask unanimous consent at this time to withdraw the amendment but keeping in mind that veterans and returning soldiers need service ieand they need to have the kind of service for ptsd

3:45:02 to 3:45:16( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: and i hope we will be able to accomplish that.o i yield back. the chairman: without objection, the gentlelady's amendment is withdrawn. for what purpose does the gentlema n from california

3:45:16 to 3:45:31( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: rise? >> i ask unanimous consent to ou consider my amendments 18 and 19 on block for the purpose o ff debate. the chairman: is there any ox? without ob jection, the clerk will -- objection?

3:45:31 to 3:45:45( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: without objection,wi the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendmentsk: on block k consisting of amendments 18 and 19 offered by mr. filner of california. the chairman: for

3:45:31 to 3:48:53( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bart Stupak

3:45:45 to 3:46:00( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? mr. edward s: i observe a point a of order on the gentleman's amendment. the chairman: a point of order is reserved. the gentleman is now

3:46:00 to 3:46:18( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: recntognized for five minutes. mr. filner: mr. chairman and mr. chairman, as the chairman of the n authorizing committee, the house veterans affairs commitnstee, i want to th ank chairman edwards,

3:46:18 to 3:46:33( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: chairman obey and his ranking members forgiving usiv this bill and a whole series of a bills thatt preceded this since our party has taken over t he majority of this body. not only have we forwe

3:46:33 to 3:46:46( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: the first time with fiscal years 2008 and 2009 exceeded the budget requestge and the so-called independent budget which is putpu together by vet glance -- vet -et- veteranns groups for veterans

3:46:46 to 3:47:02( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: and for the first time we exceeded two yeao rs in a row. not only that, but with theit fiscal year 2007 which we had to pick up and several supplemental bills whic h we had to pass, we d

3:47:02 to 3:47:19( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: have added in my calculation over $17 billion worth of new ne money for the health carfoe of our veterans which is an unpreceden ted 40% increase sincenc chairm an edwards and chairman nd obey

3:47:19 to 3:47:35( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: have been chairman of those committees. that's incredible.le we have put resources in place to do the job for oureterans. but the veterans administrveation doesn't always do what we intend

3:47:35 to 3:47:49( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: or do it with the efficiency that w e would like.e. many of you have heard the horror s tories of youngou people going to medical centers asking for ptsdr help, post traumatic at stress disorder,

3:47:49 to 3:48:02( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: being told orthey can't get an appointment for nt five or six weeks, going home and committing suicide. we've had the secretary of the v.a. tell me when i said, aren't 1,000 suicide attempts

3:48:02 to 3:48:13( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: per month by our veterans a concern and he said, no, it's consistent with s the lite rature. we have had a secretary, undersecretary of defense say that 300,0 00 ptsd victims of our forces in iraq

3:48:13 to 3:48:29( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: and 320,000 a victims of brain injury were notju a problem because those were just symptoms of those injuries,s, they did n't really exhibit full-blown ptsd orlo full-blown traumatic brain injury

3:48:29 to 3:48:41( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: so c they weren't concerned -- concerned about it. so their concern is not alwaysce equal to our commitment here. mi my two amendments would try to have dealt with that in a way that i

3:48:41 to 3:48:53( Edit History Discussion )

Bart Stupak: hope and i know t hhe chairman will work with me in the future. do you know that tens of thousands of our yououng people leave iraq and afghanistan whether they're in the ar ctive duty or

3:48:53 to 3:49:06( Edit History Discussion )

John Barrow: the reserves or the national guard withoutut any evaluation by medical personnel of either -- fo r ptsd or brain injury? ju we have to do something about that, mr. chairman, and i have

3:49:06 to 3:49:20( Edit History Discussion )

John Barrow: proposed and we will work with rk you as we auth orize what i'm calling a hero's home coming ng camp to say that every soldier with his or he r company, with wi his or her family will be evaluated

3:49:20 to 3:49:35( Edit History Discussion )

John Barrow: by medical personnel for brain injury and ptsd and before they are discharged from e the see rvice. i'd ask for a $10 million to cooperate wi th the d.o.d. to do that. in addition, one of

3:49:35 to 3:49:48( Edit History Discussion )

John Barrow: the big -- one of the chief weaknesses of the veterans administration is th ey don't like outside help. they don't ask for community support and all over this country peop le want to help our

3:49:48 to 3:50:06( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: troops. so i have asked at some point for $250 million for -- for community grants to help our ou soldiers in their own communities who have mental ve health and other injuries forer their treatmen

3:49:48 to 3:52:08( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Chet Edwards

3:50:06 to 3:50:20( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: t and rehabilitation. this is something i think we have to do, mr. chairman, i knowai you agree with me in principle. i know this is n ot the time and pl ace to debate that or put tthhat in a bill.

3:50:20 to 3:50:36( Edit History Discussion )

Chet Edwards: and your commitm ent to our o soldiers, sailors, airmen and me marines are well known and just putting that out there that we have to do this community support, mandatory evaluations that