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“PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO HOUSE AMENDMENT TO SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2764, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the in the Extensions of Remarks section section on page E2668 on Dec. 28, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO HOUSE AMENDMENT TO
SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2764, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008
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speech of
HON. CHET EDWARDS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, the fiscal year 2008 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs amended appropriations bill includes funding for H.R. 2642, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008.
This amended bill sends a clear message to America's service men and women, their families, and our veterans that a grateful Nation deeply respects their service and sacrifice. This bill says to all who have served that just as you have kept your promises to this country, we intend to keep our promises to you.
Overall the bill totals $63.9 billion, of which $3.7 billion is contingent emergency funding. It provides the largest increase in VA health care funding in the 77-year history of the VA. These additional funds allow the Veterans Health Administration to hire more doctors and nurses; provide case managers for veterans with traumatic injuries; improve mental health care and PTSD services; increase access to medical services for members of the National Guard and Reserve forces in rural areas; modernize hospitals and clinics; increase the number of beds available for homeless veterans; and increase medical research. The additional funds also allow for an increase in beneficiary travel reimbursement, the first such increase since 1979.
The Veterans Health Administration, which includes Medical Services, Medical Administration, Medical Facilities, and Medical Research, is funded at $37.2 billion, $2.6 billion more than the President's request. These funds will mean expanded care, shorter wait times, and safer facilities for our veterans.
In addition to medical care, the bill provides funds to hire 1,800 new claims processors to reduce the serious backlog of benefits claims and reduce the time to process new claims. These were complaints the subcommittee heard repeatedly from many different sources and we took action.
On the Military Construction side, this bill also supports our active duty and Guard and Reserve service men and women and their families. The bill provides $20.6 billion for military construction, family housing, and BRAC.
I am particularly proud of what we were able to do in this bill for families. Every year when the highest ranking non-commissioned officers testify before our subcommittee, we ask them to give us the top three quality of life issues facing military families. Child care is on every service's list and generally ranked as number one. That is why I am excited that we were able to fund 16 child care centers, 13 more than the President requested in his budget. We listened to the top non-
commissioned officers, military families, and support groups, such as the National Military Family Association, and did our best to address their concerns.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member of the subcommittee, Roger Wicker. His input and advice was invaluable in constructing this bill and our service men and women, their families, and our veterans are better served due to his leadership. I also want to thank the staff of the subcommittee, Carol Murphy, Tim Peterson, Walter Hearne, Donna Shahbaz, and Mary Arnold with the majority and Liz Dawson and Dena Baron with the minority. They have worked many long days and nights throughout the year putting this bill together and working with the Departments to ensure we have met our military and veterans most critical needs. Finally, I want to thank John Conger from my personal staff and Susan Sweat from Mr. Wicker's personal staff.
Mr. Speaker, I think this is a bill we can all be proud to support.
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