House Proceeding 06-23-09 on Jun 23rd, 2009 :: 0:26:40 to 0:30:20
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0:26:22 to 0:26:43( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: will be postponed. for what purpose does the gentleman from california rise? mr. filner: i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 1016 as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: union calendar number 87, h.r. 1016 a bill to amend title 38, united states code to provide advance appropriations author certain medical care accounts

0:26:40 to 0:30:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bob Filner

0:26:44 to 0:27:04( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: of the department of veterans affairs and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california, mr. filner, and the gentleman from arkansas, mr. boozman, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from california. mr. boozman: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: without objection.

0:27:05 to 0:27:25( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: mr. boozman: this is undoubtedly one the most significant bills that this congress will pass in this or any other session. the veterans health care budget reform and franz parentcy act was introduced in february and this bipartisan measure is a response to years of chronic underfunding of the v.a. medical care system. during the last two decades,

0:27:26 to 0:27:46( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: the v.a. budget has been in place at the start of the fiscal year barely four times. we all feel this delay in providing vital funding put the provision of health care to veterans at a risk and hampers the v.a.'s ability to plan for health care expenditures and

0:27:47 to 0:28:07( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: hire needed professionals and plan needed construction. nine groups form formed a partnership for veteran health care reform. these groups included amvets, veterans of foreign wars and the vietnam veterans of america.

0:28:08 to 0:28:28( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: to advocate for a v.a. health care budget that's sufficient, timely, and predictable. these groups put forward the idea that resources for v.a. health care should be provided through advanced appropriations so that when, for example, the fiscal year starts on october 1, the v.a. will know what its budget is a year in advance.

0:28:29 to 0:28:49( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: that's what happens when 1016 passes. it will ensure the v.a. can best plan and utilize taxpayer dollars to provide veterans with the health care they herbed and ke serve. it provides the framework with which we can realize advanced appropriations for v.a. medical care accounts. as part of the annual budget

0:28:50 to 0:29:11( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: sub misering -- submission, the president will be required to su submit a request for certain v.a. accounts for the fiscal year following the year for which the intunlt submitted. for example, for the 2012

0:29:12 to 0:29:33( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: budget -- for the 2011 budget, the president will be required to submit information for the 2012 budget. each yullstherk -- each july, the v.a. will be required to report to congress if it has the funds it needs

0:29:34 to 0:29:56( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: job, to prevent them from facing a shortfall as it did a few years ago. we look to our colleagues on the appropriations committee to provide the dollars. i want to express our thanks to our colleague vet ed cards -- edwards for providing advance funding for the v.a. medical care accounts for 2011.

0:29:57 to 0:30:18( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: . to provide an 8% that year above the historic 2010 levels. chairman obey i want to thank also and chairman spratt of the budget committee for including advance appropriations language in his budget resolution. all of us working together have succeeded in providing veterans with their top legislative priority. they spoke and we listened.

0:30:19 to 0:30:21( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Filner: i ask the rest of the house to join us in support