VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021 (Cong. Rec., May 17, 2021)

Summary

This is H2363 of the Congressional Record, House, May 17, 2021, with interleaved columns. The Chair announces that two-thirds being in the affirmative the ayes have it on the motion by Mr. Takano on H.R. 2788, Mr. Rosendale demands the yeas and nays, and further proceedings are postponed. Under the heading VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021, Mr. Takano moves to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 2911, which directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan for obligating and expending coronavirus pandemic funding. Mr. Bost speaks in support, saying the VA requested and received $17.1 billion in emergency funding in the American Rescue Plan, with the views and figures attributed to the speakers.

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“VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021 (Cong. Rec., May 17, 2021).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-05-17-crec-2021-05-17-pt1-pgh2363-708d455092/, SHA-256 8c3a12e72ba2ccb3f2e37a6fac6385ab1341035c8d606a46b88efff45cc4c823.

Full text

May 17, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2363
passing this important piece of legisla- (1) a comparison of how the funds are being supplemental funds, the bill mandates
tion, H.R. 2788. obligated and expended to how the funds the VA Office of Inspector General and
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance were planned to be obligated and expended in the Government Accountability Office
the plan under subsection (a)(1);
of my time. to periodically report on VA’s spending
(2) areas of waste, fraud, and abuse, if any;
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The and of these funds.
question is on the motion offered by (3) any other matter the Inspector General Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2911 adds to the ex-
the gentleman from California (Mr. determines relevant. isting oversight on VA’s spending and
TAKANO) that the House suspend the (c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEWS.— will enable greater transparency for
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2788. (1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than Sep- Congress and the public to ensure that
The question was taken. tember 30, 2022, the Comptroller General of these funds are spent efficiently and ef-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the the United States shall submit to the Com- fectively to support critical VA pro-
opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being mittees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate an interim
grams and services as we recover from
in the affirmative, the ayes have it. report containing a review of obligations and the COVID–19 pandemic.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on expenditures made using covered funds. The Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to
that I demand the yeas and nays. report shall include— join me in supporting this legislation,
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- (A) a review of the process of the Depart- and I reserve the balance of my time.
ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution ment of Veterans Affairs for preparing the Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield my-
8, the yeas and nays are ordered. request for funds; self such time as I may consume.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur- (B) an explanation of how the expenditure Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support
ther proceedings on this motion are of such funds met the goals of the Depart- of H.R. 2911, the VA Transparency &
postponed. ment during the public health emergency for
which the funds were made available;
Trust Act of 2021.
f (C) any recommendations to improve the In the American Rescue Plan, the VA
process of identifying needs and expending requested and received $17.1 billion in
VA TRANSPARENCY & TRUST ACT
funds during similar situations in the future; emergency funding. I demanded jus-
OF 2021
and tification from the VA to support that
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to (D) a review of the plans of the Department funding, and very little came. I asked
suspend the rules and pass the bill to continue programs or investments that why the VA needed additional money
(H.R. 2911) to direct the Secretary of were begun with such funds but will continue since roughly $10 billion in CARES Act
Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress after such funds are expended.
funding was still available, and no one
a plan for obligating and expending (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2024, the Comptroller General answered.
Coronavirus pandemic funding made Ranking Member TRACEY MANN of-
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’
available to the Department of Vet- Affairs of the House of Representatives and fered an amendment to oversee the use
erans Affairs, and for other purposes. the Senate a final report on the matters of those funds during the committee’s
The Clerk read the title of the bill. specified under paragraph (1). markup of the American Rescue Plan.
The text of the bill is as follows: (d) COVERED FUNDS DEFINED.—In this sec- It was voted down on party lines.
H.R. 2911 tion, the term ‘‘covered funds’’ means funds What I feared at that time I can now
that are made available to the Department
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- confirm. The American Rescue Plan
resentatives of the United States of America in of Veterans Affairs pursuant to—
(1) the Families First Coronavirus Re- has essentially become a blank check
Congress assembled, for the VA to the tune of $17.1 billion.
sponse Act (Public Law 116–127);
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. H.R. 2911 would establish strict over-
(2) the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Eco-
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘VA Trans- nomic Security Act (Public Law 116–136); or sight and reporting requirements over
parency & Trust Act of 2021’’. (3) the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 all remaining COVID supplemental
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF (Public Law 117–2).
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC FUNDING funds. It would also require the VA in-
MADE AVAILABLE TO DEPARTMENT The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- spector general to conduct regular au-
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. ant to the rule, the gentleman from dits of these funds.
(a) PLAN AND REPORTS BY SECRETARY.— California (Mr. TAKANO) and the gen- Lastly, it would require the GAO to
(1) PLAN.—Not later than 30 days after the tleman from Illinois (Mr. BOST) each conduct a complete review after all
date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec- will control 20 minutes. funds have been spent.
retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to
The Chair recognizes the gentleman I believe these requirements are ap-
the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the
House of Representatives and the Senate a from California. propriate given that we are talking
detailed plan for obligating and expending GENERAL LEAVE about tens of billions in taxpayer dol-
covered funds, including a detailed justifica- Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask lars. We should all expect full trans-
tion for each type of obligation of such unanimous consent that all Members parency on the use of these funds.
funds. may have 5 legislative days in which to I thank Chairman PAPPAS and Rank-
(2) BIWEEKLY REPORTS.—Every 14 days dur- revise and extend their remarks and to ing Member MANN for joining me in in-
ing the period beginning on the date on troducing this bill. I encourage all my
which the plan under paragraph (1) is sub-
insert extraneous material on H.R.
2911. colleagues to support this bill.
mitted and ending seven days after the date
on which the Secretary has expended all cov- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
ered funds, the Secretary shall submit to the objection to the request of the gen- my time.
Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the tleman from California? Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3
House of Representatives and the Senate a There was no objection. minutes to the gentleman from New
report detailing the obligation and expendi- Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield Hampshire (Mr. PAPPAS), my good
ture of, and the planned uses for, such funds myself such time as I may consume. friend and the chairman of the Sub-
during the period covered by the report, in- Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support committee on Oversight and Investiga-
cluding a written justification for any devi- tions.
Representative BOST’s bipartisan legis-
ation in such obligations, expenditures, or
lation, the VA Transparency & Trust Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank
planned uses from such plan.
(b) INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDITS.—Not later Act, for which Representative PAPPAS, my colleague, Ranking Member BOST,
than 120 days after the date of the enactment Representative MANN, and I are origi- for introducing this legislation. I was
of this Act, and semiannually thereafter for nal cosponsors. proud to support it alongside my col-
three years or until the Secretary has ex- This bill provides additional over- league, TRACEY MANN, from the Over-
pended all covered funds, whichever occurs sight for the funds Congress made sight and Investigations Sub-
first, the Inspector General of the Depart- available to the VA through the Fami- committee. It is the VA Transparency

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ment of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the lies First Coronavirus Response Act & Trust Act of 2021.
Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the
and the CARES Act in 2020, as well as Now, the COVID–19 pandemic and
House of Representatives and the Senate a
report examining the obligations and ex- the American Rescue Plan, which we economic crisis turned our world up-
penditures made using covered funds during passed earlier this year. side down, and it hit our veteran com-
the period covered by the report. Each such In addition to requiring the VA to re- munity especially hard. The issues our
report shall include— port biweekly on how it spends these veterans faced before the pandemic

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H2364 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 17, 2021
have only been exacerbated by COVID– SEC. 2. PRIORITY UNDER HOMELESS VETERANS veteran reintegration program to en-
REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS FOR
19, and they contend with a new host of HOMELESS VETERANS WITH DE-
sure they get the resources they need
health and financial hardships. PENDENTS. to return to housing without the fear
That is why I joined with many in (a) PRIORITY FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH of losing their children should they
this Chamber to strongly urge for sup- DEPENDENT CHILDREN.—Subsection (a) of sec- seek help.
port to our veterans in COVID–19 relief tion 2021 of title 38, United States Code, is I applaud Representative BROWNLEY
packages, including the American Res- amended— for her work on this legislation, and I
cue Plan. That plan provided a much- (1) by striking ‘‘Subject to’’ and inserting
ask my colleagues to join me in sup-
‘‘(1) Subject to’’;
needed investment in the VA, but we (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through porting the Homeless Veterans with
must all work together to ensure that (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respec- Children Reintegration Act.
this funding is used effectively to sup- tively; and Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
port our veterans and to increase the (3) by adding at the end the following new my time.
quality care that they receive. paragraph: Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield my-
As chair of the Oversight and Inves- ‘‘(2) In conducting programs under this sec- self such time as I may consume.
tigations Subcommittee, eliminating tion, the Secretary shall prioritize the provi-
sion of services to homeless veterans with
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R.
waste, fraud, and abuse, and ensuring 240, the Homeless Veterans with Chil-
dependents.’’.
veterans get the care they have earned (b) ADDITIONAL REPORTING REQUIRE- dren Reintegration Act.
is a top priority. MENTS.—Subsection (d) of such section is This legislation would direct the Sec-
This legislation would require the VA amended— retary of Labor to prioritize homeless
to report to Congress on the emergency (1) by striking ‘‘the report an evaluation of veterans with dependents when admin-
funding that it has already received. It services’’ and all that follows and inserting istering homeless reintegration pro-
will provide the enhanced oversight ‘‘each such report—’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
grams.
that is warranted to ensure funds are The Department of Housing and
‘‘(1) an evaluation of services furnished to
being used efficiently and in ways that veterans under this section and an analysis Urban Development recently released
are truly meeting the needs of those of the information collected under sub- 2020’s Point-in-Time count for home-
who have served us all. section (b); less veterans. This count showed that
Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage of ‘‘(2) an analysis of any gaps in access to on a single night in 2020, there were
this legislation. shelter, safety, and services for homeless 37,252 veterans living on the street.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage veterans with dependent children; and This is a slight increase of 0.4 percent
all of my colleagues to support this ‘‘(3) recommendations for improving any
gaps identified under paragraph (2).’’.
from 2019.
bill, and I yield back the balance of my With COVID–19 impacting the econ-
time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-
omy and increasing unemployment, we
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I also ask ant to the rule, the gentleman from
must do everything we can to help our
all my colleagues to join me in passing California (Mr. TAKANO) and the gen-
homeless veterans find work.
H.R. 2911, and I yield back the balance tleman from Illinois (Mr. BOST) each
By passing this bill to prioritize job
of my time. will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman training for homeless veterans with de-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The pendents, we are ensuring this vulner-
question is on the motion offered by from California.
able population is at the front of the
the gentleman from California (Mr. GENERAL LEAVE
line for help.
TAKANO) that the House suspend the Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask
I thank Congresswoman BROWNLEY
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2911. unanimous consent that all Members
for her hard work on drafting this bill,
The question was taken. may have 5 legislative days in which to
and I am proud to support it today.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the revise and extend their remarks and to
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being insert extraneous material on H.R. 240.
my time.
in the affirmative, the ayes have it. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
objection to the request of the gen- Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on minutes to the gentlewoman from Cali-
that I demand the yeas and nays. tleman from California?
There was no objection. fornia (Ms. BROWNLEY), my good friend,
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- the chairwoman of the Subcommittee
ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield
myself such time as I may consume. on Health, and also the author of this
8, the yeas and nays are ordered. important piece of legislation.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur- Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak
on H.R. 240, the Homeless Veterans Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise
ther proceedings on this motion are today in support of my bill, the Home-
postponed. with Children Reintegration Act intro-
duced by Congresswoman JULIA less Veterans with Children Reintegra-
f BROWNLEY. tion Act.
There is increasing concern that On any given day, there are more
b 1430 shelters and homeless veteran housing than 550,000 people experiencing home-
is not created to serve families, and lessness in our country. An estimated
HOMELESS VETERANS WITH that homeless veterans with children 40,000 of them are veterans. This is cat-
CHILDREN REINTEGRATION ACT may avoid seeking out services because egorically unacceptable.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to they are afraid of being separated from Although the Department of Housing
suspend the rules and pass the bill their children. and Urban Development and VA have
(H.R. 240) to amend title 38, United Representative BROWNLEY’s legisla- made progress toward eliminating vet-
States Code, to direct the Secretary of tion seeks to start addressing the issue erans’ homelessness, there is still more
Labor to prioritize the provision of by ensuring that veterans with families that must be done to ensure that every
services to homeless veterans with de- are prioritized within the homeless vet- veteran has a home.
pendents in carrying out homeless vet- erans reintegration program, or HVRP. We know it is 10 times cheaper to
erans reintegration programs, and for HVRP seeks to address reintegrating provide resources to prevent homeless-
other purposes. homeless veterans into the workforce ness in the first place than it is to
The Clerk read the title of the bill. through grants to partner organiza- house someone once they have become
The text of the bill is as follows: tions. homeless.
H.R. 240 Mr. Speaker, in 2018, the Department We also know that so many of our

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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- of Labor identified homeless female veterans suffer from PTSD related to
resentatives of the United States of America in veterans and veterans with families as combat or, far too often, military sex-
Congress assembled, one of the three priority populations ual trauma. These traumatic experi-
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. for HVRP services. H.R. 240 would ences put veterans at increased risk of
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Homeless prioritize homeless veterans with de- mental health conditions, substance
Veterans with Children Reintegration Act’’. pendent children within the homeless use disorders, and homelessness.

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