Date: 2010-07-28
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chair. I rise in strong support of the rule for H.R. 5822. the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2011. I would like to thank my colleague. Mr. EDWARDS. for introducing this important bill honoring our continued commitment to support the brave men and women who have been willing to sacrifice their very lives in the service of our nation and the freedom we so cherish. Our armed forces and their family members are among the most valued members of our society. custodians of our freedom and protectors of our democracy. We must continually recommit ourselves to serving them with the same honor. dignity and respect with which they serve their country. This bill generously provides substantial funding. over 77 billion dollars. in the service of our men and women in uniform. veterans. and their families for fiscal year 2011. It is a continuation of three and a half years of hard work and tireless efforts on behalf of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction. Veterans Affairs. and Related Agencies. This bill is a testament to their commitment to our soldiers. veterans and their loved ones. Moreover. the bill contains specific guidelines and provisions to ensure that all funds are spent responsibly. accountably and in a way that serves our troops and American taxpayers. Of the 77 billion dollars. 18.7 billion are for Military Construction. The funds will provide adequate housing for our young military trainees bravely serving their country. it will fund environmental cleanup of closed or moved bases as we strategically realign resources. it will provide for a National Guard and Reserve initiative for the men and women serving their nation at home. and it grants funding for critical construction for overseas contingencies operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill also dedicates over 56 billion dollars to Veterans Affairs honoring those who. after serving their country overseas. returned home to reintegrate into the society they fought valiantly to protect. The majority of the funding. over 37 billion. will go to providing much needed and well deserved medical services for all veterans. including mental health services and assistance to homeless veterans. The remaining funding will be used for major and minor construction projects. medical and prosthetic research. and medical facilities in the service of our honored veterans. Finally. in Related Agencies. the bill is providing for a number of other critical needs. such as the National Cemetery. funding for an Armed Forces Retirement Home. and the Monuments Commission which manages and cares for the monuments and cemeteries around the world that honor the service of our armed forces. Additionally. in respect for the fact that the American public has rightly demanded greater efficiency in government and efforts to reduce our deficit spending. there are a number of important provisions to ensure that all funds are spent in the most effective. efficient and expedient way possible. The provisions include several controls for Veterans Affairs spending and contract oversight. as well as oversight provisions for all construction projects in Iraq and Afghanistan. among others. Although I am disappointed that my amendment. establishing portability between states for individualized education. disability and therapeutic benefits of a dependent of a member of the armed forces upon transfer of the member. was not included in the final version. I still gladly and proudly support this bill. However. I would like to reiterate that an important part of anyones quality of life is their family and dependents. One of the ways in which we can serve the members of the armed forces who sacrifice so much for our safety and our liberty is to ensure that their families are taken care of. and eliminate the bureaucratic red tape involved in moving from one place to another. Members of the armed forces often find themselves moving. and uprooting their families and their lives. Hopefully such a provision. aimed at facilitating that process by making the educational. disability and therapeutic benefits of a child or dependent of a member of the armed forces transferable from one state to another. will be included in future legislation. In closing. I reiterate my strong support for this bill. and express my most sincere and heartfelt appreciation to everyone fighting to defend our country for their service and sacrifice for the good of the nation.