Mr. Thornberry mr. Speaker, i want to start by thanking the 63 members of the Armed Services committee, not only for all of their work in putting this bill together but for the seriousness with which they take our duties under the constitution to help provide for the common defense. Our members dont always agree, but were able to work our way through our differences most of the time and think about the larger cause. You might say we sacrifice some of our individual differences or preferences in order to support the men and women who sacrifice so much for us. And i want to thank all the members of the house. Weve had a lot of members over the last two days who have come down to the floor and talked about their amendments. Who have and all of those amendments have helped make this bill a better bill. And thats the way that for 54 straight years congresses of majorities of both parties and president s of both parties have defense bill, a last year was a little iffy but its happened. Theres a lot of uncertainty out there some of that uncertainty is because of president obama. Part of that is because of us. Of us. Part of the uncertainty is because of the political campaign. Part of the uncertainty is because of the turmoil in the world. And my suggestion to you is that with all this uncertainty going on out there, it is particularly important this year that we send a message to friends and adversaries, the United States is willing to stand up and defend ourselves. And its even more important, i would suggest that we send a message to our troops that whatever uncertainty is out there, were going to support hem. Mr. Speaker, to support our troops, we have to vote yes and pass this bill. Now, i realize that if one wants to oppose this bill, theres lots of reasons to do that. The bill takes the same budget approach as Speaker Pelosi pelosi and majority leader harry reid used in 2008, the last time we had a change of administration. The bill includes a provision that reaffirms the protections of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1990 americans with disabilities act and i really hope if anybody has a question about that, read the amendment. Ive got it here. Please road this provision and so you can judge for yourself. But before any member votes no, i hope they asked ask themselves whether they really want to send a message to our troops that yeah, that member would be supportive of the troops if only , or i really support the troops but for, or i would really support the troops maybe when. I dont think thats the right way to go. Let me just finish with a fact and a story. One fact is today of the 271 strike aircraft across the marine corps, 46 are available for flight operations. 46 out of 271 are available today. But let me make it personal for just a second. ve encountered two marines the speaker pro tempore the gentleman will proceed. Mr. Thornberry over the past week ive encountered two marines. On sunday i was privileged to attend a commissioning of a young man who is just entering the marine corps he hopes to be a navy a marine aviator. He is full of promise and enthusiasm. Earlier in the week, i learned that an experienced marine aviator has decided to leave the marine corps because he doesnt think the aircraft he is flying are safe and hes got two young kids at home. Now earlier in the debate, the Ranking Member said my philosophy in this bill was help the troops now and worry about other problems later. Well theres some truth in that. I want to help the troops now. I worry about aviators who dont think their aircraft are safe now. I cant solve budget problems in the future. Who will be elected president , i dont know what problems the world is going to face. I can do something now and hats to vote for this bill. The speaker pro tempore without objection the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. The question is on the motion to recommit. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The noes have it. The gentleman from south carolina. I request a roll call vote. The speaker pro tempore a recorded vote is requested. Those favoring a recorded vote will rise. A sufficient number having risen, a recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20, the chair will reduce to phi minutes the time for any vote on passage. This is a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore the yeas are 181 and the nays are 243, the motion is not adopted. The question is on passage of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition . I request a recorded vote. The speaker pro tempore a recorded vote is requested. Those in favor will rise. A recorded vote is ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore the yeas are 277 and the nays are 147. The bill is passed. The motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Without objection, the title is amended. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent that the clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of h. R. 4049 including cross referencing, conforming amendments to the table of kepts and short titles and the insertion of appropriate headings the speaker pro tempore without objection. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that when the house adjourns today, it adjourn to eet at 9 00 a. M. Tomorrow. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Dent i ask unanimous consent that all members five five legislative material to include h. R. 4974 and tabular material on the same. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Pursuant to House Resolution 736 and rule 18, the chair declares in the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for consideration of h. R. 4974. The chair appoints the gentleman from georgia, mr. Collins, to preside over the committee of the whole. The chair the house is in the committee of the whole house for consideration of h. R. 4974 which the clerk will report by title. The clerk a bill making appropriations for military construction, the department of Veterans Affairs for related agencies for the fiscal year ending september 0, 2017 and for other purposes. The chair the bill is considered read for the first time the gentleman from pennsylvania and mr. Bishop, the chair will recognize the gentleman from pennsylvania in just a moment. The house will come to order. The committee will come to order. The committee will come to order. Please take all conversations off the back row, off the aisles and out of the well. The committee will come to order. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Dent mr. Chairman, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Dent its my honor and privilege to bring h. R. 4974, fiscal year 2017 military construction, Veterans Affairs the speaker pro tpore the committee will come to order. Please remove conversations from the floor. Both idse, please remove onversations from the floor. The gentleman from pennsylvania will continue. Mr. Dent im bringing to the floor h. R. 4974, military construction, v. A. Affairs and related agencies appropriations bill to the house for consideration. I present this bill along side my very good friend and Ranking Member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from georgia, mr. Bishop, who has been an essential partner along the way. I appreciate the participation and support our committee membs on both sides of the aisle as we consider priorities in funding levels for the important progrs in our bill. We analyze the budget request, held oversight hearings to get feedback of all the services, the department of defense leadership, secrery of the v. A. And v. A. Inspector general. We received over 1,000 requests from members. Again, from both sides of the aisle and we gave them full and fair consideratn. The bill is a product of listening to the concerns of our veterans, veteran advocates, Service Members, spouses, caregivers and health care provids in and outside the v. A. Over the past year. As we consider this bill, i cant proceed further without noting this committee has chairman. The chair your attention and oversight and genuine care for the military and veterans has been inspiring and we have some great support from our professional staff, tracy and , sarah, matt on the Committee Staff and sean and drew and heather on my personal staff. I would like to note michael, michael with mr. Bishops office. We couldnt do it without them. I would like to note the retirement of our Senior Member of our subcommittee, sam farr. He has been on the subcommittee since 1999. And we went into detail about sams accomplishments including being the architect of the monterey model which is successful of publicprivate partnership. Sam, wherever you may be, your commitment, passion and good humor will be missed and all the best to you in your impending retirement. H. R. 4974 demonstrates our Firm Commitment to supporting our nations veterans and Service Members. Ur investment of 81. 6 billion as 1. 2 billion over last years level is unprecedented. The bill addresses issues to help veterans in every part of the country, every Congressional District and our troopts around the world. This bill provides support for Service Members, military families and veterans and supports our troops and facilities necessary to maintain readiness and morale at bases here in the states and overseas. It provides for schools and Health Clinics that take care of our military families and funds our Health Care System to ensure that our promise to care for those who care for those continue as those men and women return home. We owe this to our veterans and committed to oversights so programs deliver what they promise and taxpayers are well served by the investments we make. The bill provides 7. 9 million or housing, base operations, oco funding, an increase over the president s request. This funding meets d. O. D. s most critical needs including priority projects for Combatant Commanders and funding new mission requirements. It provides 304 million for military medical facilities. It provides 246 million for department of defense educational facilities, for construction or renovation of schools. It support ours guard and reserve through 673 million for facilities in 21 states. It includes 514 million for projects from the department of defenses unfunded priority list, benefiting the most critical projects as identified by the services not included in the budget request. It fully funds military Family Housing at 1. 3 billion. It provides 173 million for nato Security Investment Program which is 43 million other last years level to deal with increasing threats and necessary investments overseas. On Veterans Affairs, this legislation includes a total of 176 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding for department of Veterans Affairs. Discretionary funding aloan for veterans programs in the bill was 73. 5 billion. Total fiscal year 2017 is 2 billion above fiscal year 016 1. S a increase and and 1. 5 billion below the budget request. Within that total, v. A. Medical care is proid provided with 64 billion a 5 increase over last year. Again a 5 increase over last year for v. A. Medical care. Again, on medical services, v. A. Medical services, the bill funds v. A. Medical services at 52. 5 billion, that includes 850 million that v. A. Came back and asked for this year on top of the advance funding provided last year. Many members expressed concerns about medical services and we were able to fully fund the budget request for hepatitis c at 1. 5 billion, were bying for treatments for so many veterans who are being cured from this horrible disease, drugs are expensive they come down in price and thats helped us serve more veterans. Veterans homelessness at 1. Billion. Caregiver stipends at 725 million. Office of the Inspector General is at 160 million. For disability claims, we provide the full request for Veterans Benefits administration a 118 million increase over fiscal year 2016 and the full budget request for the board of veterans apees a 46 million increase. The bill will enhance transparency and accountability at the v. A. To further through further oversight and increase for the v. A. Office of Inspector General. The Inspector Generals independent audits an investigations. Legislation also contains 260 million for the modernization of the v. A. Electronic Health Record and includes restricting all the funding until the v. A. Meets milestones and certifies interoperability to meet statutory requirements. Major construction. We continue to focus on Major Construction oversight. The bill includes ladgewadge that will hold back 100 of the funding for the largest Construction Projects until v. A. Contracts for outside federal management and we maintain strict restrictions on transfers, use of savings and scope change. The bill provides 5 8 million for Major Construction projects in reno, nevada, long beach, california, as well as cemeteries in florida, new york and colorado. We include bill language regarding improved standards for the suicide hotline and certification of Mental Health therapists to expand access for veterans who need their care and i dont need to explain to anybody in this body this great need here to help with the Mental Health needs of so many of our veterans. V. A. Performance awards, the bill prohibits all performance awards for v. A. Senior executives. This was in response to multiple member requests to restrict bonuses of various types at the v. A. I understand this is controversial. But given the horrendous mismanagement we have seen at the v. A. Facilities across the country, many of the v. A. Facilities, we were compelled to send a strong message about accountability, the prohibition we included has passed as a floor amendment several years in a row so thats why its included in the base bill this year. And ill tell you that we have obviously very many great, wonderful employees at the v. A. Who are doing their best every day to provide for our veterans through benefits, the health system, educational needs. I want to make sure we make that point but there is need for some accountability. Thats why we had to insert this particular provision. We had received some unfounded critismcism for the actions we had taken. The Administration May not be happy with any change to its budget proposal. But this bill provides generous funding that is years to the that adheres to the law and our responsibility to practice fiscal responsibility. Overall work this bill and the funds provided in advance last year, for fiscal year 2017 the v. A. Will have available 98 of what it asked for. 98 of what they asked for, provided. I wager that there wont be another department in that enviable position. This shows that the level of commitment we have to our veterans and their families, so i think that should be noted. So despite any criticism we should all be proud of this bill and what weve done in it. Let me tell you i can say with absolute certainty, the v. A. s problems stem from poor management and not too little money. We continue to push for better management and the secretary has replaced motion of the senior managers at headquarters and in the field. Many v. A. Employees, as i mentioned earlier, are deeply committed, so many, overwhelmingly, theyre committed to at the veterans, theyre talent and work hard. I have met these folks, i appreciate them very much. I visit with them in eastern pennsylvania on a regular basis and in South Central pennsylvania. But the corrosive culture thats been cited at the v. A. Emains the root of the v. A. s problems. I want to briefly discuss the thece act or as we call it, vaca. I fully support the choice act and want veterans to have access to Quality Health care at a convenient location for them. Veterans want to be served in the communities where they live, its better for the veteran, better for think the family and we want to make sure our veterans have access to some of the finest Health Care Systems in the world that may not be part of the veteran Health Care System. The choice act was so popular that it brought a lot of demand for v. A. , theyve been spending choice act fund and discretionary funds to meet the demand. The choice act expires at the end of fiscal year 2017 and its funding is being depleted sooner than that. Some of the Choice Programs are already out of money, others will be out of money halfway through the year. For example, the choice act hires method call professionals to cut the backlog of appointments runs of o runs out of funds to pay those people halfway thro