Americans affected by cyclospora is rapidly growing in over 30 States,
and because of inadequate surveillance, that may just be the tip of the
iceberg.
  Last year, the Trump administration changed the CDC's FoodNet
surveillance program, narrowing the number of pathogens under active
surveillance, including cyclospora. The health and lives of thousands
of Americans are on the line as they contract diseases that the CDC has
helped us prevent for years and has screened for, for years, all
because of the actions of this administration.
  If you are an American right now with measles, this CDC has failed
you. As cyclospora spreads, the CDC is not meeting expectations.
Communication has been sparse. Misinformation is rampant, and real
information is lacking. HHS Secretary Kennedy, as a leader, has been
completely absent in helping with any of it.
  As a doctor and a Member of Congress, I am outraged and deeply
concerned. We need the CDC to be restored to its previous capacity,
because you don't really know how critical our public health service is
and our CDC is until there is an outbreak and we can't manage it.
  Every death from preventable illnesses should be laid at the Trump
administration's feet until these changes are undone.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people need to take note of the amount of
rhetorical smog emanating from the other side of the Chamber, because
it is obscene. Our Democratic colleagues continue to weave together an
entirely disingenuous and deceptive narrative that Democrats are the
ones standing at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to
supporting our Nation's veterans. That has never been the case and will
never be the case.

  If Democrats truly cared enough about veterans, they would spend
their time supporting Chairman Bost's bill and not coming up with hack
job, so-called solutions that do nothing to reform the VA and deliver
high-quality care and service to those who have served this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, it is sad that our colleagues across the aisle have
chosen this position. It is sad that they can gin up misleading
narratives and hawk them around like someone delivering newspapers on a
bike.
  The bill before us ensures that combat-disabled servicemembers who
were medically retired through no fault of their own receive the
benefits they earned while maintaining equity across retiree
populations.
  This is what happens when personalities of the day and political
gamesmanship subvert actual legislating, like what Chairman Bost and
Republicans have been doing the entire time. The former doesn't deliver
for veterans. It treats them like second-class citizens. Their solution
is spending more money while delivering fewer outcomes.
  Wow, color us shocked. It is a story as old as time.
  Instead, the bill before us today would reduce net direct spending by
approximately $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. In an era of growing
deficits and debt, H.R. 9237 demonstrates that Congress can advance
significant veterans' priorities while remaining fiscally responsible
and reducing overall Federal spending.
  Republicans are focused on targeted relief. This is targeted relief
that focuses on combat-disabled veterans, includes additional fairness
safeguards, and does not throw money at a problem with the meager hope
of things fixing themselves by osmosis.
  Let's run through what else you will not find in the cobbled-
together, so-called solutions that Democrats are throwing their weight
behind.
  You won't find a unified Democratic effort to reform the VA's
outdated construction and leasing processes that delay the opening of
clinics and facilities across the country. In Chairman Bost's bill,
Republicans are doing just that.
  You won't find the Democratic commitment to ensure that veterans can
continue to access the mental health care support services in the
communities where they live nationwide. In Chairman Bost's bill, it is
there.
  You won't find Democratic solutions to slash government bureaucracy
that hinders veterans from accessing the care they deserve and earned.
In Chairman Bost's bill, they are there.
  Mr. Speaker, that is the difference here. All Democrats see is
another government program to funnel money into without any commitment
whatsoever to improving the lives of those the program serves. They
will contort the language they use and the policy gimmicks they cook up
to mislead people and organizations into believing mistruths.

                              {time}  1250

  VSOs, the purpose-driven organizations that are dedicated to
advocating for veterans, have been led to believe that Republicans
somehow want to rob veterans of their benefits, but that is entirely
untrue.
  As is evidenced by President Trump's efforts, the efforts of
Secretary Collins at the VA, and the veteran-driven legislation here in
Congress, Republicans see veterans and meet them where they are.
  Republicans see and understand the problems that veterans face every
day and want to ensure that the VA is nimble, responsive, and
rightsized so that veterans are not left in the dark and to fend for
themselves.
  Here is a final little nugget that I will leave you with, Mr.
Speaker: The majority of our Republican members on the Veterans'
Affairs Committee are indeed veterans. There is only one Democrat on
that committee who is a veteran.
  I trust veterans to know and understand what veterans need and
deserve. People are actually attuned to issues veterans face as opposed
to those who simply haven't the slightest clue.
  Republicans are the ones with actual solutions here. We are not
bloviating like so many have chosen to do. We are fighting for
veterans, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  If there were people watching these proceedings and listening to my
Republican friends, they may conclude that they sound a little
defensive because they are, and they should be, especially on these
veterans issues.
  The bottom line is that the VFW, the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
strongly opposes the disability benefit cuts that are included in the
proposed Take Care of America's Veterans Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the
entire statement of the VFW and their strong, strong opposition to
these cuts.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.

VFW Strongly Opposes Disability Benefit Cuts Included in Proposed Take
                     Care of America's Veterans Act