Under the eight previous years of republican chairmen, debate was never cut off when democratic members offered difficult amendments during democrats members democratic members offered difficult amendments during the process. We took tough votes when we needed to. Mr. Speaker, i wish we could have had such a different conversation today, the day after veterans day, than this one. But i would be remiss in my duty as Ranking Member if i did not call out this behavior and ways in which it fails our nations veterans. Chairman takano has spoken movingly about how he want us to use his chairmanship to stand up for the rights of minority veterans and i commend him for that. And have stood alongside him in doing that work. Including in may when we stood side by side to launch the Bipartisan Women Veterans Task force. Yet i urge him now in carrying out this that commitment not to spurn the historical bipartisan traditions of the Veterans Affairs committee, not to trouns on the rights of the minority members of that committee, not to cut corners, and not to cast aspersions against me or any other member of our committee when we could be debating the issues at hand like our constituents sent us here to do. Despite our deep disagreements here, i consider chairman takano a friend. And i know him to be a good and fair man. Who is motivated by a sincere desire to do the right thing for the millions of veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for this great nation. That desire is shared by me and every member of our committee, republican and democrat alike. I do not doubt that for a second. I also do not doubt our ability under the chairmans leadership to put this unfortunate recent chapter of the committees history behind us, in return to and return to productive bipartisan traditions that our committee is known and respected throughout the United States congress and the nation. In doing so, we will once again live up to the example that our nations veterans, including Deborah Sampson herself, has said. I thank the chairman in advance for that. I stand ready to assist him however i can, as Ranking Member and as his friend, and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california. Mr. Takano mr. Speaker, i appreciate the final comments that the Ranking Member made, i believe in good faith and sincerity. And they were words of generosity. But i have to rebut some of the claims that he has made. While i spent six years of my time in congress in the minority, and in the minority on this committee, i can tell you that the minority staff and and other members of the minority did offer amendments in good faith, but we never did o in order to derail or to obstruct passage of important and meaningful legislation. And therefore the chairman can point to many great piecess the Ranking Member, while he was chairman, can point to many great pieces of legislation, including the forever g. I. Bill. And numerous other bills. It was a very Productive Congress in the last congress because the minority worked with him. Look, bipartisan spirit means that the minority also works in good faith and ms. Brownley, in order to bring the Deborah Sampson act to the floor under suspension, made some significant concessions for which there was nothing offered in return. Mr. Barrs amendment on crimes against children has been offered on the floor as a motion to recommit. Interestingly enough, to ms. Broubly ms. Brownleys bill on child care on the floor. That bill was voted down. It was voted down on the house floor. And i can only believe that this very same legislative language was offered as an amendment to the Deborah Sampson bill in defines of that , the house already expressing its will on that bill. I refute the contention that it was offered in good faith before we brought ms. Brownleys legislation on the Deborah Sampson act in committee. The Ranking Member fails to mention that three of the amendments related to antilabor legislation that s hostile to labor, this was to talk to say that this was offered in good faith, when he knows that the legislation we were bringing forward was intended to be suspension legislation, and normally the majority and minority come to an agreement for a very expeditious legislative hearing when it comes to suspension bills. Finally ill mention that i watched the Ranking Member try to subvert the landmark h. R. 8, the universal background checks bill, by raising this issue of the next list and trying to whip up opposition by our veteran service organizations. I thought that so i have seen him act in a different context against h. R. 8 and why he sought in committee to attach legislation related to guns to a Womans Health bill and to expanding opportunities for women, Women Veterans to utilize fully the benefits fully earned, i cannot comprehend that attempt. So, i can say in many instances ive responded to the Ranking Members request to actually go outside of regular order for the minoritys benefit. Let me just say, i want to use this time now to yield three minutes to the author of this truly historic legislation, chairwoman of our subcommittee on health, and also author of the legislation, representative brownley from california. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from california is recognized. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank you, mr. Speaker. And thank you, mr. Chair, for bringingmy bill, the Deborah Sampson act, to the floor. I thank the Ranking Member for his support as well. In 1782, Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man so she could serve in the revolutionary war to protect and defend our democracy. She was wounded in that war, her forehead had a gash from a sword and she was shot in the leg. But serving as a man made her invisible. Too many decades Later Congress finally granted her petitions for the benefits she deserved and she became one of the First American women recognized for her military service. Women have served on land, air and sea in every conflict in every conflict in our nations history. Yet their remarkable and brave service is often overlooked. Through my work as chair of the Women Veterans task force, i have met with countless Women Veterans across the country who, like Deborah Sampson, feel invisible. Their Service Often goes unnoticed, while veteran men around them are always thanked. And sadly, Women Veterans are often harassed when they go to the v. A. For help. This denies them the equitable access to the benefits and care they have earned and deserve. On a recent visit to v. A. s only womensent rick residential substance womencentric residential Substance Abuse rehabilitation program, an army veteran said the Program Saved her life. When women focus resources womenfocused resources exist, Women Veterans use them and they thrive. That is why this bill is vital for americas two million Women Veterans. It will ensure that women have consistent access to comprehensive, genderspecific care and services. It will help stop harassment and ensure that Women Veterans are fully recognized for their service. In 1836, John Quincy Adams stood on the house floor and called Deborah Sampsons heroism, fidelity and courage of the very highest and noblist order. Congress recognized Deborah Sampsons service and in doing so ensured that she was no ocker longer invisible. To americas Women Veterans of today, i stand here to say, we see you and you are invisible no longer. Id like to thank representatives cunningham, delgado, levin, lee, pappas, rose, underwood, velazquez and wild who contributed to this legislation. And i urge my colleagues to support h. R. 3224, to fully ecognize and honor Women Veterans services. With that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Takano mr. Speaker, may i inquire as to how much time i have remaining . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has 9 1 2 minutes remaining. Mr. Takano thank you. At this time i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from tennessee has 6 1 2 minutes. The gentleman from tennessee. Mr. Roe thank you, mr. Speaker. At this time id like to yield three minutes to my good friend from lexington, kentucky, andy barr, hes been a hes a member of our Veterans Affairs committee, has been a tireless supporter of veterans. Ive been in his district on several occasions and the veterans have no better friend than congressman barr. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. Mr. Barr thank you, mr. Speaker. And thank you to my good friend, dr. Roe, happy belated veterans day to you, sir, and hope you had a good weekend. I certainly did back home in lexington, kentucky. At Veterans Park with the Veterans Park elementary choir singing to our great veterans back home. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in strong support of h. R. 3224, as amended, the Deborah Sampson act. As my colleagues before me have already pointed out, women have served our country since the very earliest days of the american revolution. But as the Fastest Growing segment of our veteran population, they are only now starting to get the recognition that they deserve. Im proud to be here today to support this bill that will ensure that the department of Veterans Affairs provides them the care and benefits that their service and their sacrifices have entitled them to and i commend the gentlelady from new york for her leadership on this important legislation. I do have to say, mr. Speaker, however, that any characterization that my republican colleagues on the Veterans Affairs committee and i feel anything less that be pride in the many women than pride in the many women who served and continue to serve today, and a steadfast commitment to support them and meet their needs, is simply untrue. And had i or my colleagues been allowed to speak on this bill in committee, they would have that would have been very evident to any member of this house. What my colleagues and i do object to are the overly partisan tactics that were deployed by the majority when this important bill was being considered. I am new to the Veterans Affairs committee in this congress, but i know that the committee has a long tradition of bipartisanship, where members check their Party Affiliations at the door, and do not shy away from debates or disagreements in the spirit of living up to the very democratic ideals that our veterans fought to defend. Unfortunately we seem to have lost sight of that great tradition this year. As dr. Roe referenced in his comments earlier, i have been trying since february to address an unintended consequence of a housepassed bill that could allow an accused child molester who is awaiting prosecution to care for a veterans child in a v. A. Child care program. I do not know any parent in any Political Party who would want one of their own children to be cared for by someone who has been charged with a serious crime like a Sexual Assault against a minor, before they have been fully cleared. Yet the majority has twice used parliamentary procedures rarely if ever seen in the Veterans Affairs committee to refuse to allow our committee to consider my legislation to prevent that from happening to a child of one of our nations veterans. Most recently the majority did that when this bill was being considered. Their action were so unexpected that my colleagues and i left the markup when it became clear that the chairman was not going to allow us or any other member the opportunity to speak, much less offer amendments, and declared that we were done voting on the bill. I resent the comment that this amendment was not offered in good faith. As a former president the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Roe i yield to another 30 seconds, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has the floor for another 30 seconds. Mr. Barr as the former president of prevent child abuse kentucky, this amendment was offered very much in good faith. It is disappointing and its deeply ironic, given the lack of child care, while certainly not solely a womans issue, is a wellknown barrier to care for many Women Veterans as mying democrat colleagues have pointed out over this past year. Given that, it continues to astound me that the chairman would not allow us to even discuss my amendment, much less vote on it, and that immediately and then immediately sent a send a press release out accusing me and my fellow republicans of walking out the Women Veterans that my opponent would have amendment would have helped to have better served. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Roe i continue to reserve. He speaker pro tempore mr. Roe i continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california. Mr. Takano it is the essence of bad faith to stand here on the floor and imply to the democrats dont care about the safety of our children. The gentleman from tennessee offered this as a motion to bill it to ms. Brownleys and after fervently arguing why it was so necessary to include it in ms. Brown leahs bill, voted for ms. Brownleys bill. Cite that as evidence that theres some crocodile tears being crired cried here. I would like to yield two minutes to the gentlelady from the committee on health, ms. Underwood. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Underwood this past sunday, our office honored over 200 vietnam war period veterans at my district in illinois in a ceremony to show our appreciation. Today, the day after veterans day, im proud to be on the house floor to continue our work on behalf of veterans. I would first like to thank representative brownley and my other colleague who was work sod hard to compile this important bill in the house. In addition to providing better access to resources and benefits offered by the v. A. , the Deborah Sampson act contains several provisions to ensure that Women Veterans have equitable access to high quality, genderspecific health care. Im proud my bill, the care for Women Veterans act is included in the Deborah Sampson act. We know the v. A. Is committed to providing care to all veterans, but many v. A. Facilities are not equipped to provide care to women veteran. The caring for our Women Veterans act, now section 30s5 to 307 of the Deborah Sampson act will enable the v. A. To fulfill its noigs care for all veterans. They are required to report where gender specific services are available. This will provide the data it needs toup grade clinics and hospitals to hire, train, and retain staff and most importantly to provide earned health care to Women Veterans. These changes are long overdue and its now even more pressing that this legislation is passed. Women have servedonorably in the armed forces since the founding of these United States and Women Veterans are the fastest gwing group within the veteran population. We have a collective responsibility to care for our veterans when they return home and the Deborah Sampson act helps achief that by removing veterans Women Veterans face on a daily basis. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support my bill,he caring for our Women Veterans act and the underlying Deborah Sampson act and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. T gentleman from california. Mr. Takano i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from tennessee. Mr. Roe i continue to reserve. The speaker pro tpore the gentleman continues to reserve. The gentleman from california. Mr. Takano at this time i would le to yield one minute to my friend, the gentleman from california, mr. Corayia. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Correa mr. Speaker, i rise in suprt of h. R. 3224, the Deborah Sampson act, as amended. Im proud to join my colleague, representative brownley of california, in support of this most important bill to improve the health care provided for americas more than two million womeneterans. I thank the chairwoman of the house Veterans Affairs subcommitte for including my bipartisan bill, improving oversight of womens veteran