BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. He is obviously a very thoughtful member of the Committee on Rules and a fine member of our Committee on Appropriations.
I believe we have something really important to discuss today, and that is that today really does mark a return to regular order for our appropriations bills and process. That statement is so significant that we need to pause and recognize it as a tremendous achievement. This has been the intense focus of Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers for more than 5 years. And the committee's esteemed ranking member, too, Mrs. Lowey, has been equally determined to have regular order restored. They have worked relentlessly to get us to this place, which is, in fact, a better place. So I commend Chairman Rogers and Mrs. Lowey and appreciate the support of the House leadership to make this happen. This is the best way to serve our citizens, our Federal agencies, our veterans, our military services, and the members and their families.
It is also my honor to have the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill move forward as part of the conference committee. That is very significant to me as chairman of that subcommittee. Of course, we are also going to deal with the Zika threat as we must and as we should, and that will be part of these discussions. I am sure we are going to be able to come to an agreement with the Senate just on how we will proceed on that very important issue, and I think everybody here is committed to moving forward both on the MILCON piece of this as well as Zika.
H.R. 4974--and that is the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill--demonstrates our firm commitment to fully supporting our Nation's veterans and servicemembers. Our investment of $81.6 billion for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, at $1.8 billion over last year's level, is unprecedented. The bill will address issues to help veterans in every part of the country, every congressional district, and our troops throughout the world.
The bill provides comprehensive support for servicemembers, military families, and veterans with $7.9 billion. It supports our troops with facilities and services necessary to maintain readiness and morale at bases here in the States and, again, overseas. It provides for the Department of Defense schools and health clinics that take care of our military families.
For the VA, this bill includes $73.5 billion in discretionary funding. The bill funds our veterans healthcare systems to ensure that our promise to care for those who sacrificed in defense of this great Nation continues as those men and women return home. We owe this support to our veterans and we are committed to sustained oversight so that programs deliver what they promise and taxpayers are well served by the investments that we make.
So I certainly support this motion to go to conference. I certainly urge adoption of this motion so we can deal with taking care of our servicemembers, our veterans, and their families. We must do this. Of course, we must also deal with the Zika threat that is affecting so many of us. I commend everybody involved in that issue.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to commend Chairman Cole for his efforts on this issue. I serve with him on the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. I know he has been in constant communication with our friends at the NIH and the CDC to make sure we get the resources necessary to them so they can help us deal with this very real threat.
Again, I am very pleased that we have returned to regular order and that we are going to conference this bill on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, and on Zika. It is great for the Congress, great for the country, and we need to move forward.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT