Date: 2010-09-22
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the chairman very much for presiding over this very important legislation. As I have noted. any number of bills from the Energy and Commerce committee have been very constructive. I thank the manager from our friends on the other side of the aisle. and I thank in particular Representative HARMAN and the collaborative effort between Energy and Commerce and. as well. Veterans Affairs. This bill. modest in fundingand I would like to emphasize that before I even speak about its importancemodest in funding. $5 million per year between 2011. I believe. and 2015. takes an important step toward the value that we place on our service men and women. One. we thank them while they are serving. and we have made a commitment to thank them when their service is finished. My State happens to be unique in having the highest percentage of returning soldiers. in particular from Iraq and Afghanistan. in the State of Texas. In addition. many of you are aware of many of the bases in our State. but. as well. you are aware of the horrific tragedy that occurred at Fort Hood just a few months ago and. of course. coming up on its firstyear recognition. In that instance. many were lost. but some were injured. and the idea of using soldiers who have been trained by the military to return home for first responder utilization is a brilliant idea and one that is long in coming. It is well known that veterans do have a higher unemployment in the general population in many instances. But also. Mr. Speaker. we know that many of our veterans. because of a number of serious issues. find themselves homeless. Where is our continued promise about treating them with the same respect and dignity that we have done so while they were in the service and then when they are out? So this particular legislation. H.R. 3199. does two things that I think are enormously important. takes advantage of the important talent that is coming home. that wonderful training that saves lives on the battlefield to use in Americas emergency rooms. Then I was so delighted to be able to hear that as we move to have this massive and important change in medical reform. health care reform that is going to save livesparticularly. I think. tomorrow will be a number of new provisions coming out in the health care billnow we have the ability to assess the training of these very fine men and women to serve in Americas medical professions. This is key. Its a great partnership. I thank the author of the bill. I rise to support it. I am loudly saying to those who are returning home to Texas and other States around the Nation that we now have an opportunity to use your great talents to save lives. to be in Americas hospitals. to be in fire stations. to assist police officers and to be there when danger and disaster comes to face Americans on the home soil. What better way of using the great talent that we have. The men and women who were willing to offer their lives on the battlefield now can come home and serve their fellow Americans in one of the highest professions we have and that is the health care profession. where you can say that no matter where you are. you have the ability to save lives. I ask my colleagues to support enthusiastically H.R. 3199.