September 11, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5817 

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 

support of S. 3245, extending authorization of 

the EB–5 Regional Center program another 

three years to September 2015. The EB–5 

program provides conditional permanent resident status to foreign investors in economic 

units known as Regional Centers. In doing so, 

the program promotes economic growth, improves regional productivity, and creates jobs 

in the geographic area where a Center is located. This is exactly the kind of incentive 

needed in my district, the Northern Mariana Islands, which has seen gross domestic product 

decline from $1.2 billion in 2002 to $600 million in 2009. Already several proposals have 

come forward for the Northern Mariana Islands, predicated on the establishment EB–5 

Regional Centers, that will inject foreign investment capital and create jobs. These Regional Centers do not just represent jobs and 

salary for their direct employees—they represent investments in our community. For 

every new job created, and for every additional dollar of salary paid, our workforce and 

pay scale are benefitted across the board. The 

extension of this program provided in S. 3245 

will ensure that these opportunities can continue to benefit our economy. I commend Senator LEAHY and Senator GRASSLEY for introducing this bipartisan legislation and the bipartisan House leadership for bringing this bill to 

the floor for approval. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. 

CHAFFETZ). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from 

Texas (Mr. SMITH) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 3245. 

The question was taken. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the 

opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being 

in the affirmative, the ayes have it. 

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on 

that I demand the yeas and nays. 

The yeas and nays were ordered. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. 

f 

IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY OF 

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR 

VETERANS ACT OF 2012 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move 

to suspend the rules and pass the bill 

(H.R. 4057) to amend title 38, United 

States Code, to direct the Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive policy to improve outreach 

and transparency to veterans and 

members of the Armed Forces through 

the provision of information on institutions of higher learning, and for other 

purposes, as amended. 

The Clerk read the title of the bill. 

The text of the bill is as follows: 

H.R. 4057 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON PROVIDING EDUCATION INFORMATION 

TO VETERANS. 

(a) COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REQUIRED.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 36 of title 38, United 

States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

the following new section: 

‘‘§ 3698. Comprehensive policy on providing 

education information to veterans 

‘‘(a) COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REQUIRED.—The 

Secretary shall develop a comprehensive policy 

to improve outreach and transparency to veterans and members of the Armed Forces through 

the provision of information on institutions of 

higher learning. 

‘‘(b) SCOPE.—In developing the policy required 

by subsection (a), the Secretary shall include 

each of the following elements: 

‘‘(1) The most effective way to inform individuals of the educational and vocational counseling provided under section 3697A of this title. 

‘‘(2) A centralized way to track and publish 

feedback from students and State approving 

agencies regarding the quality of instruction 

and accreditation, recruiting practices, and 

post-graduation employment placement of institutions of higher learning. 

‘‘(3) The merit of and the manner in which a 

State approving agency shares with an accrediting agency or association recognized by the 

Secretary of Education under subpart 2 of part 

H of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

(20 U.S.C. 1099b et seq.) information regarding 

the State approving agency’s evaluation of an 

institution of higher learning. 

‘‘(4) The manner in which information regarding institutions of higher learning is provided to 

individuals participating in the Transition Assistance Program under section 1144 of title 10. 

‘‘(5) The most effective way to provide veterans and members of the Armed Forces with information regarding postsecondary education 

and training opportunities available to the veteran or member. 

‘‘(c) POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION INFORMATION.—(1) The Secretary shall ensure that the 

information provided pursuant to subsection 

(b)(5) includes— 

‘‘(A) an explanation of the different types of 

accreditation available to educational institutions and programs of education; 

‘‘(B) a description of Federal student aid programs; and 

‘‘(C) for each institution of higher learning, 

for the most recent academic year for which information is available— 

‘‘(i) whether the institution is public, private 

nonprofit, or proprietary for-profit; 

‘‘(ii) the name of the national or regional accrediting agency that accredits the institution, 

including the contact information used by the 

agency to receive complaints from students; 

‘‘(iii) information on the State approving 

agency, including the contact information used 

by the agency to receive complaints from students; 

‘‘(iv) whether the institution participates in 

programs under title IV of the Higher Education 

Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.); 

‘‘(v) the tuition and fees; 

‘‘(vi) the median amount of debt from Federal 

student loans under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) held by 

students at institution; 

‘‘(vii) the cohort default rate, as defined in 

section 435(m) of the Higher Education Act of 

1965 (20 U.S.C. 1085(m)), of the institution; 

‘‘(viii) the enrollment rates, graduation rates, 

and retention rates; 

‘‘(ix) for each program of education offered by 

the institution that is designed to prepare a student for an occupation that requires a licensure 

or certification test offered by a Federal, State, 

or local government or has other preconditions 

or requirements, the degree to which the program prepares the student for the particular occupation; 

‘‘(x) whether the institution provides students 

with technical support, academic support, and 

other support services, including career counseling and job placement; and 

‘‘(xi) whether the institution accepts academic 

credit by students who are transferring to the 

institution, including credits awarded by a proprietary for-profit institution. 

‘‘(2) To the extent possible, the Secretary shall 

provide the information described in paragraph 

(1) by including hyperlinks on the Internet 

website of the Department to other websites that 

contain such information in a form that is comprehensive and easily understood by veterans, 

members, and other individuals. 

‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) The term ‘institution of higher learning’ 

has the meaning given that term in section 

3452(f) of this title. 

‘‘(2) The term ‘postsecondary education and 

training opportunities’ means any postsecondary program of education, including apprenticeships and on-job training, for which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides assistance to 

a veteran or member of the Armed Forces.’’. 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 

3697A the following new item: 

‘‘3698. Comprehensive policy on providing education information to veterans.’’. 

(b) PROHIBITION ON INDUCEMENTS.—Section 

3696 of title 38, United States Code, is amended 

by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(e) The Secretary shall not approve an educational institution if the educational institution provides any commission, bonus, or other 

incentive payment based directly or indirectly 

on success in securing enrollments or financial 

aid to any persons or entities engaged in any 

student recruiting or admission activities or in 

making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.’’. 

(c) SURVEY.—In developing the policy required 

by section 3698(a) of title 38, United States Code, 

as added by subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

conduct a market survey to determine the availability of the following: 

(1) A commercially available off-the-shelf online tool that allows a veteran or member of the 

Armed Forces to assess whether the veteran or 

member is academically ready to engage in postsecondary education and training opportunities 

and whether the veteran or member would need 

any remedial preparation before beginning such 

opportunities. 

(2) A commercially available off-the-shelf online tool that provides a veteran or member of 

the Armed Forces with a list of providers of 

postsecondary education and training opportunities based on criteria selected by the veteran 

or member. 

(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

Senate, the Committee on Education and the 

Workforce of the House of Representatives, and 

the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 

and Pensions of the Senate a report that includes— 

(1) a description of the policy developed by the 

Secretary under section 3698(a) of title 38, 

United States Code, as added by subsection (a); 

(2) a plan of the Secretary to implement such 

policy; and 

(3) the results of the survey conducted under 

subsection (b), including whether the Secretary 

plans to implement the tools described in such 

subsection. 

(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) The term ‘‘commercially available off-theshelf’’ has the meaning given that term in section 104 of title 41, United States Code. 

(2) The term ‘‘postsecondary education and 

training opportunities’’ means any postsecondary program of education, including apprenticeships and on-job training, for which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides assistance to 

a veteran or member of the Armed Forces. 

SEC. 2. STATE CONSIDERATION OF MILITARY 

TRAINING IN GRANTING CERTAIN 

STATE CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES AS A CONDITION ON THE 

RECEIPT OF FUNDS FOR VETERANS 

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4102A(c) of title 38, 

United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

end the following: 


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H5818 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 11, 2012 

‘‘(9)(A) As a condition of a grant or contract 

under which funds are made available to a State 

in order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 of 

this title for any program year, the Secretary 

shall require the State to disclose to the Secretary in writing the following: 

‘‘(i) Criteria applicants must satisfy to receive 

a certification or license described in subparagraph (B) by the State. 

‘‘(ii) A description of the standard practices of 

the State for evaluating training received by 

veterans while serving on active duty in the 

Armed Forces and evaluating the documented 

work experience of such veterans during such 

service for purposes of approving or denying a 

certification or license described in subparagraph (B). 

‘‘(iii) Identification of areas in which training 

and experience described in clause (ii) fails to 

meet criteria described in clause (i). 

‘‘(B) A certification or license described in this 

subparagraph is any of the following: 

‘‘(i) A license to be a nonemergency medical 

professional. 

‘‘(ii) A license to be an emergency medical professional. 

‘‘(iii) Any commercial driver’s license. 

‘‘(C) The Secretary shall share the information the Secretary receives under subparagraph 

(A)(ii) with the Secretary of Defense to help the 

Secretary of Defense improve training for military occupational specialties so that individuals 

who receive such training are able to receive a 

certification or license described in subparagraph (B) from a State. 

‘‘(D) The Secretary shall publish on the Internet website of the Department— 

‘‘(i) any guidance the Secretary gives the Secretary of Defense with respect to carrying out 

this section; and 

‘‘(ii) any information the Secretary receives 

from a State pursuant to subparagraph (A).’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 

by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a 

program year beginning on or after October 1, 

2013. 

SEC. 3. CONDITIONS ON THE AWARD OF PER 

DIEM PAYMENTS BY THE SECRETARY 

OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR THE 

PROVISION OF HOUSING OR SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS. 

(a) CONDITION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) of section 

2012(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 

per diem payment may not be provided under 

this section to a grant recipient or eligible entity 

unless the entity submits to the Secretary a certification that the building where the entity provides such housing or services is in compliance 

with codes relevant to the operations and level 

of care provided, including the most current Life 

Safety Code or International Fire Code and all 

applicable State and local housing codes, licensing requirements, fire and safety requirements, 

and any other requirements in the jurisdiction 

in which the project is located regarding the 

condition of the structure and the operation of 

the supportive housing or service center.’’. 

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 

by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to an 

application for a per diem payment under section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, submitted on or after the date of the enactment of 

this Act. 

(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—Section 2065(b) of title 

38, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and 

(2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph (6): 

‘‘(6) The Secretary’s evaluation of the safety 

and accessibility of facilities used to provide 

programs established by grant recipients or eligible entities under section 2011 and 2012 of this 

title, including the number of such grant recipients or eligible entities who have submitted a 

certification under section 2012(c)(1).’’. 

(c) TREATMENT OF CURRENT RECIPIENTS.—In 

the case of the recipient of a per diem payment 

under section 2012 of title 38, United States 

Code, that receives such a payment during the 

year in which this Act is enacted, the Secretary 

of Veterans Affairs shall require the recipient to 

submit the certification required under section 

2012(c)(1) of such title, as amended by subsection (a)(1), by not later than two years after 

the date of the enactment of this Act. If the recipient fails to submit such certification by such 

date, the Secretary may not make any additional per diem payments to the recipient under 

such section 2012 until the recipient submits 

such certification. 

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF REGISTRY.—Not later 

than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

shall— 

(1) establish and maintain an open burn pit 

registry for eligible individuals who may have 

been exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes 

caused by open burn pits; 

(2) include any information in such registry 

that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines necessary to ascertain and monitor the 

health effects of the exposure of members of the 

Armed Forces to toxic chemicals and fumes 

caused by open burn pits; 

(3) develop a public information campaign to 

inform eligible individuals about the open burn 

pit registry, including how to register and the 

benefits of registering; and 

(4) periodically notify eligible individuals of 

significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure to 

toxic chemicals and fumes caused by open burn 

pits. 

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

(1) REPORT BY INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

shall enter into an agreement with an independent scientific organization to develop a report containing the following: 

(A) An assessment of the effectiveness of actions taken by the Secretaries to collect and 

maintain information on the health effects of 

exposure to toxic chemicals and fumes caused by 

open burn pits. 

(B) Recommendations to improve the collection and maintenance of such information. 

(C) Using established and previously published epidemiological studies, recommendations 

regarding the most effective and prudent means 

of addressing the medical needs of eligible individuals with respect to conditions that are likely 

to result from exposure to open burn pits. 

(2) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 

18 months after the date on which the registry 

under subsection (a) is established, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress the report developed under paragraph (1). 

(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) The term ‘‘open burn pit’’ means an area 

of land located in Afghanistan or Iraq that— 

(A) is designated by the Secretary of Defense 

to be used for disposing solid waste by burning 

in the outdoor air; and 

(B) does not contain a commercially manufactured incinerator or other equipment specifically 

designed and manufactured for the burning of 

solid waste. 

(2) The term ‘‘eligible individual’’ means any 

individual who, on or after September 11, 2001— 

(A) was deployed in support of a contingency 

operation while serving in the Armed Forces; 

and 

(B) during such deployment, was based or stationed at a location where an open burn pit was 

used. 

SEC. 5. PERFORMANCE AWARDS IN THE SENIOR 

EXECUTIVE SERVICE. 

For each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017, the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not pay more 

than $1,000,000 in performance awards under 

section 5384 of title 5, United States Code. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 

Florida (Mr. BILIRAKIS) and the gentleman from California (Mr. FILNER) 

each will control 20 minutes. 

The Chair recognizes the gentleman 

from Florida. 

GENERAL LEAVE

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask 

unanimous consent that all Members 

have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any 

extraneous material they may have on 

H.R. 4057, as amended. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there 

objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida? 

There was no objection. 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 

myself such time as I may consume. 

H.R. 4057, as amended, is another bipartisan product of the Committee on 

Veterans’ Affairs’ work to improve the 

effectiveness of several different benefits and health programs for veterans. 

I want to express my appreciation to 

my good friend Chairman MILLER and 

to my other good friend Ranking Member BOB FILNER, along with each of the 

subcommittee chairs—MARLIN

STUTZMAN and ANN MARIE BUERKLE—as 

well as Ranking Members BRUCE

BRALEY and MIKE MICHAUD, for bringing, of course, these provisions to the 

full committee and to the floor today. 

b 1600 

The bill has five major sections, Mr. 

Speaker. Section 1 reflects a slightly 

modified version of the original text of 

my bill, H.R. 4057, which I introduced 

in February. This legislation would improve the ability of GI Bill users to 

choose the school that best meets their 

educational needs. As we commemorate September 11 today, it is appropriate that this Congress help this generation of post-9/11 veterans make informed choices by using their educational benefits. 

Specifically, this legislation will require the VA to create a comprehensive 

policy that would meet this goal by informing veterans about their eligibility for educational counseling by 

creating a centralized complaint database on schools, requiring State approving agencies to better communicate with accrediting agencies, requiring VA to link to certain performance-related data points on the College 

Navigator and other appropriate Web 

sites, and identifying commercially offthe-shelf available software that would 

assist students in choosing a school 

and software that would evaluate their 

readiness to attend postsecondary education. 

I want to thank the veteran service 

organizations and higher education associations for the support of this section and providing great feedback on 

ways to improve this bill. 

Section 2 contains provisions originally introduced by Congressman STIVERS and my friend from across the 

aisle, Congressman TIM WALZ, to require States to take military training 


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September 11, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5819 

into account in awarding licenses to 

work as medical technicians and other 

trades. I thank Mr. STIVERS, another 

good friend of mine, and Mr. WALZ, for 

their work on these provisions that 

will speed up servicemembers’ transition to civilian life. 

Section 3 contains a provision introduced by Congressman DAVID MCKINLEY which would require per diem payment recipients under VA’s Homeless 

Grant and Per Diem Program to certify 

compliance with the Life Safety Code 

or the International Fire Code and 

other relevant fire safety and building 

codes. It would also require VA to include an accounting and evaluation of 

the safety and accessibility of facilities 

used to provide programs for homeless 

veterans in the annual report on assistance to homeless veterans. 

I’m grateful for Mr. MCKINLEY’s advocacy on behalf of our homeless veterans, and I thank him for his hard 

work to ensure that they are cared for 

in a safe and secure environment. 

Section 4, which incorporates language originally introduced by Representative AKIN, would direct the VA 

to establish and maintain an open burn 

pit registry for veterans—very important—veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan 

who may have been exposed to toxic 

chemicals and fumes caused by open 

burn pits during deployment. It would 

require VA to develop a public information campaign to inform eligible veterans of the registry and periodically 

notify them of significant developments in the study and treatment of 

conditions associated with burn pit exposure. It would also direct the VA to 

contract with an independent scientific 

organization to develop a report on the 

effectiveness of actions taken to collect and maintain information on the 

health effects of burn pit exposure and 

submit the completed report to Congress. 

Many of our servicemembers and veterans have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with grave concerns about 

the possible long-term health effects of 

burn pit exposure. With this provision, 

I hope we will move one step closer to 

providing them answers which may 

lead to getting them more effective 

health care. 

Finally, section 5, which incorporates 

language offered by Mr. STEARNS, a 

good friend of mine from the State of 

Florida, would limit the total amount 

of bonuses paid to senior VA employees 

to $1 million for fiscal years 2013 to 

2017. On average, over the last several 

years, VA paid nearly $4 million a year 

to senior executives who are already 

paid very well. In a tight fiscal climate 

when so many improvements are needed for veterans, we must prioritize 

every dollar. Extravagant executive 

bonuses are to be the least of our priorities. I’m pleased this section would 

recognize that reality. 

Mr. Speaker, I would also note that 

the cost of these sections are fully paid 

for. 

I encourage all Members to support 

this bill, and I reserve the balance of 

my time. 

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 

myself such time as I may consume. 

I certainly thank the members of the 

committee and Mr. BILIRAKIS for working in such a bipartisan manner to protect servicemembers and protect veterans. I think Mr. BILIRAKIS gave a 

very comprehensive overview of the 

bill. Let me just make a couple of 

points here. 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill, which a Democratic Congress passed a couple of 

years ago, was really a milestone for 

our current crop of veterans. Almost 

800,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have now made use of the benefits 

that this bill provides. We ought to be, 

as a Congress, very proud of that kind 

of legislation. 

With so many thousands of veterans 

using their Post-9/11 GI Bill, it’s important, obviously, that they understand 

their benefits and eligibility and have 

all the information available to them. 

That’s what H.R. 4057 does, which Mr. 

BILIRAKIS outlined quite nicely. Veterans are going to be able to get the 

kind of information that they need to 

get the best educational benefits that 

are suited to them. 

Let me just say one thing about section 4 of the bill, which authorizes the 

Department of VA to establish a burn 

pit registry for eligible veterans. 

Mr. Speaker, every time that we send 

men and women into combat, we have 

to make sure we understand the risks 

associated with exposures to toxic substances and take responsibility when 

we expose our own troops to these effects. We haven’t done that in the past. 

We ought to learn more from history. 

Whether it was atomic testing in World 

War II, whether it was agent orange in 

the Vietnam War, whether it was depleted uranium, we’ve done the same 

thing over and over again. We’ve either 

denied or underestimated the risks. It 

took years, even decades, to admit the 

risks. When we finally did that, we still 

make our veterans undergo lots of bureaucratic hoops to get the benefits 

that come from exposure to the very 

substances that we put them at risk 

for. 

Let’s not repeat that pattern. This 

open pit registry will be part of that effort. We want to understand the risks. 

We want people to know where they 

have been exposed. 

I requested the General Accountability Office to help us in our efforts 

to better understand health risks associated with the burn pits in Iraq and 

Afghanistan. We all know that the preliminary reports have shown that the 

fumes from these pits produce a considerable amount of contaminants that 

may cause short-term and long-term 

harm to our servicemembers. 

Finally we’re having a proactive 

measure and one which I hope will benefit veterans in an extremely positive 

way. I thank Mr. BILIRAKIS and his colleagues for working with our colleagues for the bill, and I reserve the 

balance of my time. 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I’m 

happy to yield 3 minutes to a senior 

member of the Veterans Committee, 

my good friend from Florida (Mr. 

STEARNS). 

Mr. STEARNS. I thank my distinguished chairman and colleague. 

I rise today in support of H.R. 4057, 

the Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act 

of 2012. It has been offered by my colleague from Florida, GUS BILIRAKIS. 

My colleagues, this bill would provide veterans and servicemembers the 

resources that they need to make informed decisions when choosing the 

right institution or school for the career they wish to pursue. The other 

provisions included would help veterans with State certification credentials for skills acquired while on active 

duty. It ensures homeless veterans 

have access to shelters, in compliance 

with the State and local codes, and 

would require the Secretary to establish and maintain a burn pit registry 

program for individuals who may have 

been exposed to toxic chemicals. 

During the committee markup, I offered an amendment that would limit 

the amount the VA would pay in performance awards to senior staff from 

fiscal year 2013 to 2017 to adequately 

cover the costs associated with H.R. 

4057, along with the provisions included 

from the other three bills. 

b 1610 

My colleagues, in the last 3 years, 

the worst economic climate this country has seen since the Great Depression, almost 800,000 VA employees received monetary awards totaling $1.1 

billion. This limitation amendment I 

offered affects only the Senior Executive Service, the SES, as they are 

called, who are considered to be like 

the generals of the Federal workforce 

and make between $120- and $180,000 a 

year. 

The VA has an agency that has 

underperformed, yet they continue to 

provide performance bonuses at the expense of taxpayers and the well-being 

of our veterans. Today’s VA backlog 

stands at 840,000 claims, of which more 

than 55 percent have been pending for 

more than 125 days. It is unconscionable that these senior executive employees are receiving bonuses averaging $40,000 a year, on top of their sixfigure salaries, when the number of 

backlog claims is close to the number 

of monetary awards given. 

Today, September 11, is a day every 

American will never forget. I urge all 

my colleagues to support passage of 

this bill, and by doing so we honor our 

veterans and servicemembers by supplying them with these needed resources to help rebuild their lives. Mr. 

Speaker, today is a day we’ll never forget. We’ll always remember the sacrifices of those brave men and women, 

and in passage of this bill we will remind everybody of our appreciation for 

them. 


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H5820 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 11, 2012 

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 

such time as he may consume to our 

ranking member of the Health Subcommittee, the gentleman from Maine, 

a fighter for Veterans’ Affairs, Representative MICHAUD. 

Mr. MICHAUD. I want to thank the 

gentleman for his strong support for 

veterans over the years and look forward to continuing to work with him 

through the rest of this Congress. 

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor and a strong supporter of this bill. 

Each section of it makes important 

changes that will improve the care and 

services we provide our veterans. I’m 

especially proud that it creates a comprehensive educational outreach policy, recognizes that military service 

meets the standards of many civilian 

job certifications, and that it establishes an open burn pit registry. 

All three of these provisions are the 

result of the hard work of veterans and 

their advocates. I had many meetings 

with veterans who not only identified 

these issues, but they also provided solutions for the issues as well. 

In my time of serving on the House 

Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I’ve always appreciated that it’s one of the 

places in Congress where bipartisan efforts are working and things do get 

done. I’m pleased this is the tradition 

in this particular bill as well. 

I want to thank all of my colleagues 

on the Veterans Affairs’ Committee, 

Chairman MILLER of the full committee, Chairwoman BUERKLE of the 

Health Subcommittee, and TIM WALZ, 

who has also been a true advocate of 

veterans’ issues, and I thank him for 

his service as well for this great Nation 

of ours. 

I would encourage my colleagues to 

support H.R. 4057. 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 

as much time as she may consume to 

the chairwoman of the Subcommittee 

on Health, my good friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. BUERKLE). 

Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today in support of H.R. 4057, as 

amended, the Improving Transparency 

of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012. 

As we all know, 11 years ago this 

morning on September 11, 2001, our 

country was forever changed when terrorist attacks on American soil resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 innocent souls. Since that time we’ve been 

tested like never before, and thanks to 

the brave service and sacrifices of our 

Nation’s Armed Forces, have emerged 

as a nation stronger, better, and more 

resolved to advancing the cause of freedom around the world. 

We also have emerged a more grateful Nation, ever mindful of the simple 

truth that the security and freedoms 

we enjoy were bought and paid for by 

the blood, sweat, and tears of those in 

uniform. Caring for and honoring these 

heroes is one of our Nation’s most sacred obligations and the primary purpose of this bill before us today. 

H.R. 4057, as amended, includes two 

provisions originating from the Subcommittee on Health, of which I am 

honored to chair. 

Section 3 of the bill would require per 

diem payment recipients under the Department of VA Homeless Grant and 

Per Diem program to provide VA with 

a certification of compliance with a 

Life Safety Code or the International 

Fire Code and other relevant fire safety 

building codes in their jurisdiction. 

This provision would also require the 

VA to include an accounting and evaluation of the safety and accessibility of 

facilities used to provide programs for 

homeless vets in the annual report on 

assistance to homeless veterans. 

Current law requires the VA to ensure that entities receiving grants 

under the homeless grant and per diem 

program meet fire and safety codes. 

However, VA lacks a similar requirement to ensure per diem recipients are 

also compliant with these very important codes. 

When one of our honored veterans 

finds him or herself homeless and 

makes the difficult decision to get 

help, we must ensure that they are provided the services they need in a safe, 

secure, and supportive environment. 

This section of the bill would allow us 

to do so in a much more comprehensive, effective, and efficient manner. 

This provision was introduced by my 

good friend and colleague from West 

Virginia, DAVID MCKINLEY, and I thank 

him for his leadership and his advocacy 

on behalf of the homeless veterans 

struggling to rebuild their lives. 

Section 4 of the bill would direct the 

VA to establish and maintain an open 

burn pit registry for veterans of Iraq 

and Afghanistan, who may have been 

exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes 

caused by open burn pits during deployment. This provision would also require the VA to develop a public information campaign to inform eligible 

veterans of their registry and periodically notify them of significant developments in the study and treatment of 

the conditions that may be associated 

with burn pit exposure. 

Further, it would direct the VA to 

contract with an independent scientific 

organization to develop a report on the 

effectiveness of actions taken to collect and maintain information on the 

health effects of burn pit exposure and 

submit the completed report to Congress. 

I have heard from countless veterans 

who returned home from a war consumed with concern about the air they 

breathed in the battle, which was often 

filled with smoke from the burning of 

solid waste and could affect their 

health and well-being. With this provision, we will take first steps towards 

recognizing and respecting these concerns of our veterans. Importantly, it 

will also allow us to gather data necessary to discovering new and better 

ways to care to for our veterans today 

and in future generations. 

In closing, I would like to offer my 

sincere gratitude and appreciation to 

all of the Members who sponsored the 

provisions included in this legislation. 

I also would like to thank the ranking member on the Health Subcommittee, Mr. MICHAUD of Maine, for 

his support and all of the work on behalf of our veterans. 

I urge all of my colleagues to join me 

in supporting this legislation. On this 

day of all days, it is so very important 

that we support the servicemembers 

and veterans who have fought for the 

greatest Nation in the history of mankind, the United States of America. 

Mr. FILNER. I yield 3 minutes to the 

gentleman from Minnesota, the sergeant major of the United States Congress, Mr. WALZ. 

Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. I would like 

to thank the ranking member of Veterans’ Affairs. I have had no greater 

friend since his time here, and we are 

grateful for the work he has done. 

To Mr. BILIRAKIS and the entire committee for what has been said by several of my colleagues, it’s fitting and 

appropriate today that we are passing 

legislation to serve those who have 

served us. It also is fitting and appropriate that we conduct ourselves in a 

manner fitting of their service. 

This committee is one, as Mr. 

MICHAUD said and so many others have 

said. We are proud of the work we do 

together. This is just another example. 

I would like to comment just briefly 

on section 2 of this that my good friend 

and friend of veterans from Ohio (Mr. 

STIVERS) has been an absolute, outspoken, untiring advocate of to make 

sure that we employ these veterans 

when they come home. Last month, 

President Obama signed in another bill 

of ours, the Veteran Skills to Jobs Act, 

that is now the law of the land, making 

it easier to credential our veterans 

when they come back. 

This Nation spends $140 billion training our veterans. These are our best 

and brightest and most dedicated. 

When they come back home, they’re 

not victims, but we certainly know 

there are barriers to employment that 

we should not be putting up in front of 

them. 

b 1620 

If they’ve driven that truck and 

served this Nation in Afghanistan, why 

should we have to repay to get a CDL 

license? If they’ve saved their colleagues on the battlefield and passed 

the credentialing to be a medic, why 

can’t they ride in an ambulance at the 

Mayo Clinic in my district? And this 

bill takes it to the next level and sets 

that credentialing in coordination between the Federal and State to make 

sure when our veterans return home 

that we’re not putting barriers in front 

of them, and to be quite honest, that 

we’re not spending precious resources, 

whether it’s giving them unemployment insurance or retraining them 

through redundant trainings. 

In my office, my veterans staffer was 

the SHAPE commander’s Black Hawk 

pilot in Europe. And he was the top 

trainer in the military. If he came back 

out, civilian-wise, he would have to go 


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September 11, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5821 

to a 48-month course to able to get 

through some of these things. That 

makes no sense, and it’s putting our 

veterans at a disadvantage. 

So I want to thank Mr. STIVERS for 

making this possible. The transition 

can be there. I also want to thank our 

States that have been so willing to 

work with us. There are eight States 

that have already implemented this 

proposal. It will make it easier. It’s the 

right thing to do for our veterans. It 

will give employers great dependable 

employees, and it will make sure these 

veterans do what we know is best for 

their mental health, for their family, 

and for this country—get back to work 

and start doing the things that they 

want to do. 

With that, I thank everyone involved 

for this great bill. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4057. 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I am happy to yield 

2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 

(Mr. STIVERS), a veteran of Operation 

Iraqi Freedom. 

Mr. STIVERS. I would like to thank 

the gentleman for yielding, and I would 

like to thank my colleague, Mr. WALZ, 

for his help as we’ve tried to enact the 

Hire at Home Act, which has been 

rolled into this bill. The legislation 

came from a roundtable in my district 

of veterans last fall. And as veterans 

return home today with military training they’ve received, that training is 

not recognized by civilian authorities 

and States, and therefore they’re 

forced to go through redundant training to do the job they were doing in the 

military. 

However, if somebody can do a job 

while serving in a war zone, they can 

certainly do that same job at home in 

a safe environment. 

With so many veterans returning 

home from Iraq and Afghanistan, we 

need to make sure we do everything we 

can to help get them back to work. It’s 

shameful that the unemployment rate 

among post-9/11 veterans is 12.7 percent, according to a recent report of 

the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s 

why we introduced the Hire at Home 

Act. It will help, as Representative 

WALZ said, remove barriers in front of 

these soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines and get them the civilian certifications they need to get them to work 

as soon as they get home. It forces 

States to do this by ensuring that in 

order to receive certain workforce development grants, they have to streamline these certifications. 

I would like to thank all those who 

have helped make this bill happen 

today: Representative WALZ, Representative BILIRAKIS, Representative 

MILLER, and Representative STUTZMAN. 

And I’d like to thank Senator PRYOR

for his interest in the Senate. I would 

like to call on the United State Senate 

to pass this bill as soon as we get it 

done. I’d like to thank the Members of 

this body for their support and urge all 

the Members to support this legislation. 

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no 

further requests for time, and I yield 

back the balance of my time. 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, how 

much time do I have left? 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 6 minutes remaining. 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 

3 minutes to the gentleman from West 

Virginia (Mr. MCKINLEY). 

Mr. MCKINLEY. Thank you, Congressman BILIRAKIS and Chairman MILLER, for bringing this bill to the floor 

today. 

Let me take this opportunity to 

highlight a segment of the portion 

dealing with safe housing for homeless 

veterans. I had previously sponsored 

this concern in a separate piece of legislation, and it was subsequently 

amended into this bill that’s before us 

today. 

Currently, there are 2,100 community-based homeless veterans service 

providers across the country and many 

other homeless assistance programs 

that have demonstrated impressive 

success reaching homeless veterans. 

I’ve visited some of the shelters in my 

home district in West Virginia and was 

struck by how many were not, unfortunately, in compliance with State, 

local, or Federal building and fire 

codes. 

Consequently, we began to investigate how broad based this issue was 

across America. It was unsettling to 

learn about shelter fires where lives 

have been lost. There’s stories of a 

homeless shelter fire where occupants 

were killed due to the fact that there 

was not a required sprinkler system at 

the facility or dozens were injured 

when a sprinkler system was not working properly or where doors were closed 

that needed to be opened. 

All of these could have been avoided. 

Unfortunately, there is no law mandating a homeless shelter meet building and fire safety codes, only a policy 

within the VA. As a licensed professional engineer, I found this to be an 

egregious omission in the law concerning homeless shelters for veterans. 

The language in this bill would require any organization that seeks funding for VA for services to homeless veterans have documentation that their 

building meets or exceeds all building 

codes. This is commonsense legislation 

that could ensure the well-being of veterans all across America who have fallen on hard times and are in need of the 

most assistance. As a Nation, it should 

be unacceptable for us to allow homeless veterans to be housed in potentially unsafe conditions. 

I appreciate the support of this legislation and this provision from the 

American Legion, the Homeless Veterans Coalition, the International Code 

Council, and the Fire Marshals Association. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for including this language in the bill today and 

for your concern for the safety and the 

living environment of our veterans. 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I am happy to yield 

2 minutes to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, 

the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 

STUTZMAN). 

Mr. STUTZMAN. I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. BILIRAKIS) 

for yielding. 

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 

support of H.R. 4057, as amended. This 

is a bipartisan bill that at its core will 

help our youngest group of veterans 

make more informed choices about 

how to use their VA education benefits. 

I think it’s very appropriate today that 

as we remember 9/11 and those who died 

that day and those who have died since 

defending our Nation that we are discussing this bill on the floor. The post9/11 GI Bill is a wonderful benefit that 

thousands of veterans are using or have 

used to advance their education and 

training. 

H.R. 4057 will further assist these veterans in making decisions on how to 

best use their GI Bill benefits through 

new, innovative online tools and by 

providing greater transparency on certain data from educational institutions. By helping these veterans make 

more informed choices, we are not only 

putting them on the path to successful 

careers, but we are saving taxpayer 

dollars that may have been misused at 

a training program that didn’t suit the 

veteran’s needs. 

As chairman of the Subcommittee on 

Economic Opportunity, I’m proud of 

the work that Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. 

BRALEY, and the rest of the members of 

the subcommittee have done to improve this bill; and thanks to our colleagues on the Health Subcommittee 

for their provisions as well. I want to 

thank Chairman MILLER and the ranking member for their support of this 

legislation. I ask my colleagues to support the bill. 

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, once 

again, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 4057, as amended, and I yield 

back the balance of my time. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

question is on the motion offered by 

the gentleman from Florida (Mr. BILIRAKIS) that the House suspend the rules 

and pass the bill, H.R. 4057, as amended. 

The question was taken; and (twothirds being in the affirmative) the 

rules were suspended and the bill, as 

amended, was passed. 

A motion to reconsider was laid on 

the table. 

f 

b 1630 

PUBLIC TRANSIT SECURITY AND 

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT ACT 

Mr. TURNER of New York. Mr. 

Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 

and pass the bill (H.R. 3857) to amend 

the Implementing Recommendations of 

the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to include as an eligible use the 

sustainment of specialized operational 

teams used by local law enforcement 


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