Congressional Record, Volume 165 Issue 25 (Friday, February 8, 2019)

[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 25 (Friday, February 8, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H1469-H1482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McEachin). Pursuant to House Resolution
105 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of
the Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration
of the bill, H.R. 840.
Will the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan)
kindly take the chair.

{time} 0915

In the Committee of the Whole

Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of
the bill (H.R. 840) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide child care assistance to
veterans receiving certain medical services provided by the Department
of Veterans Affairs, with Mr. Sablan (Acting Chair) in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The Acting CHAIR. When the Committee of the Whole rose on February 7,
2019, amendment No. 11, printed in House Report 116-6, offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cloud) had been disposed of.

Amendment No. 12 Offered by Ms. Sherrill

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 12
printed in House Report 116-6.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee for the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Allred).
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 2, after line 24, insert the following:
``(c) Outreach.--The Secretary shall perform outreach to
inform eligible veterans of the child care assistance
available under this section.''.
Page 2, line 25, strike ``(c)'' and insert ``(d)''.
Add at the end the following:
(c) Public Notice.--After the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall make publicly available on a Department
website notice of the child care assistance benefit under
section 1730D of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a). Such notice shall be easily accessible and
visible and shall include a description of the expanded and
cost-free child care assistance for veterans, eligibility
requirements, and any additional information the Secretary
determines necessary.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 105, the gentlewoman
from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Jersey.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer and speak in support of
the amendment by my colleagues, Congressman Allred from Texas and
Congresswoman Torres from California.
Our amendment directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify
veterans of the expanded, cost-free childcare services in this bill,
and perform outreach to veterans and their families.
Each of us have heard from the women and men who have served and
sacrificed in uniform about the challenges that come from seeking
access to the benefits that veterans have earned.
Last year, at a veterans' roundtable in Woodland Park, I heard from
women veterans that it is not enough for Congress to enact a new
provision and think our job is done. We must direct the VA to find the
veterans who need help and make sure they know and fully utilize these
services.
This straightforward amendment requires the VA Secretary to provide
public notification on VA.gov about the program, and to perform
outreach to inform eligible veterans. The VA has significant and
specialized resources for our veterans. Veterans in my district rely on
services at the Morristown VA Outpatient Clinic as well as nearby Lyons
and East Orange facilities.
I had the opportunity to visit the Morristown Clinic last week and
speak with caregivers and patients at the facility.
I want every veteran, including the more than 25,000 veterans in New
Jersey's 11th Congressional District to know that these VA facilities
are there for them. These specialized treatment facilities are part of
systems worth strengthening and saving.
Mr. Chairman, we must make sure that childcare resources reach their
intended recipients as we work to improve care for our veteran
community. Only then will we see veterans coming forward to seek
counseling and other medical services, secure in the knowledge that
their children have a safe place during their appointment.
Simply put, this important childcare program will not work as
intended or have the reach that it could without informing our
servicemen and -women that it exists in the first place.
I thank the gentleman from Texas for this amendment, and I wish him
and his wife--who is from Montclair, New Jersey--well as they welcome
their first child.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to
the amendment, although I am not opposed.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for
5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Representatives Allred, Sherrill, and
Torres' amendment that would require the VA to ensure that eligible
veterans are made aware of childcare assistance available to them
through this program via outreach and publicly available information
made easily accessible on VA's website.
This program would be no good to any veteran if they don't know that
it exists and could potentially serve them. This is a commonsense
proposition and I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in
supporting it.
On a related note, I understand that Representative Allred recently
left D.C. to return to Dallas for the birth of his son, which is
further proof of how disruptive children can be to a working parent's
schedule and why this bill is so needed.
I wish Congressman Allred and his family my hearty congratulations
and send them my best wishes during this joyous occasion.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from

[[Page H1470]]

California (Mr. Takano), the chairman of the committee.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
I support this amendment because we want every veteran who may be
eligible to receive no-cost childcare to be able to access it. If
veterans don't know that they may be eligible to place their child in
childcare while they attend their healthcare appointments, they may
mistakenly think they will have to miss their healthcare appointments
to care for their children.
When veterans are not aware of the healthcare benefits available to
them, or don't know where or who to turn to for help, the result can
sometimes be fatal.
When 20 veterans and servicemembers commit suicide every day in this
country, and the VA under this administration only spent $57,000 last
year out of the $6.2 million set aside for suicide prevention outreach,
that is less than 1 percent. The administration's lack of commitment
shows.
As VA's top clinical priority, we cannot allow VA to continue to fail
in its duty to notify veterans of VA's mental health and suicide
prevention services, and that is why I support this amendment.
If VA is not mandated by Congress to notify and conduct outreach to
veterans, it won't do it. Many veterans who would benefit from cost-
free childcare won't know it exists.
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the
gentleman from California.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, I would also like to quickly add that
Congressman Allred, a new member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
is expecting his first child any day now, so it is very appropriate
that we are debating a bill today that will help so many veterans who
are parents of young children.
I thank both Congresswoman Sherrill and Congressman Allred for
offering this amendment, and if it is adopted, this committee will
ensure VA conducts outreach and notifies veterans of their childcare
benefits.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to add that I hope that
the VA will do outreach with groups like Welcome Home Vets of New
Jersey.
I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I encourage my
colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 13 Offered by Ms. Moore

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 13
printed in House Report 116-6.
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end, add the following new section:

SEC. 3. REPORT REQUIRED.

(a) Annual Report.--Beginning in the first fiscal year
following the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall submit, as part of the annual budget
request document for the Department of Veterans Affairs, a
report regarding eligible veterans who received child care
assistance under section 2 during the immediately preceding
fiscal year. Each such report shall include the following:
(1) The number of such eligible veterans in each region of
the Veterans Health Administration.
(2) If feasible, the number of such eligible veterans per
facility of the Department.
(3) The amount of funding for such assistance made
available by the Secretary--
(A) for each region of the Veterans Health Administration;
and
(B) for each type of assistance specified in subsection (b)
of such section.
(4) Findings regarding--
(A) challenges in providing such assistance;
(B) child care not covered by such assistance; and
(C) recommendations to improve such assistance.
(b) Biennial Supplement.--Not less than once every two
years, the report under subsection (a) shall include a
supplement regarding the following:
(1) Other challenges regarding child care services that
prevent veterans from receiving covered health care services
under section 2.
(2) Plans of the Secretary to address challenges identified
under paragraph (1).
(3) An assessment of the extent to which lack of education
by the Department or awareness by veterans of the assistance
under section 2 contributes to a lack of use of such
assistance.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 105, the gentlewoman
from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, I will be brief. The lack of childcare is a
serious barrier to workforce participation. But the lack of childcare
is also a significant barrier to obtaining good healthcare, which is
why I am so grateful that we are taking this step today to make it less
so for our Nation's veterans who are in dire need of critical services
at their VA.
My amendment is simple, Mr. Chairman. First, it requires the VA to
report on the use of this new benefit broken down by region. We need to
have hard data about usage to gauge the effectiveness of this program.
Secondly, it requires a biannual report from VA on other childcare
barriers besides the financial assistance we are providing today that
may be hindering veterans' access to care.
Now, while this bill may get us down the road on improving care,
there may be other barriers to childcare that remain: the lack of
transportation, as an example; availability; or access to providers.
While this bill is progress, we can't rest until all of the barriers to
quality and affordable childcare for veterans seeking services has been
addressed.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to
the amendment, although I am not opposed.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for
5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congresswoman Moore's amendment to
require annual reports on the participation and funding requirements
associated with childcare assistance, as well as biannual reports on
other remaining challenges regarding childcare services and
recommendations for improvement.
If we are going to create a new program like this one, we have an
obligation to ensure that it is serving the people it is supposed to be
serving, and providing good value for our taxpayers.
I am happy to support this amendment to ensure that this program is
closely monitored by VA, and that Congress is able to use these reports
to conduct appropriate oversight of it.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Chair, how much time do I have remaining?
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman has 3\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano), the distinguished chairman of the Veterans'
Affairs Committee.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from Wisconsin for
yielding.
I support this more amendment because we need to know how many
veterans and children are eligible for no-cost childcare versus how
many veterans and children are participating in this program.
Each region and medical facility should know how many veterans and
children are eligible, and this report asks for VA to report this data
in the President's budget submission to Congress so we can ensure VA is
accurately reporting the resources it needs to make this a successful
program.
Every 2 years, the VA would also be required to report other
challenges and barriers veterans face, apart from childcare services
that prevent veterans from receiving their healthcare at VA.

[[Page H1471]]

This report is also key to ensuring VA conducts the outreach and
notifications to eligible veterans that would be required if this bill
passes into law. This bill will require VA to assess whether lack of
outreach by VA, or lack of awareness by veterans of this no-cost
childcare program is a reason for lower participation.
This report would hold VA accountable for not doing everything it can
to make this benefit available for the veterans who need it. I support
this amendment.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I strongly support
Congresswoman Moore's amendment, and urge my colleagues to support it
also.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Chair, I do want to thank the chairman for his
support, and I want to thank Members of the minority for their support.
This is so very important.
I look forward to working with the chairman in this Congress to
continue to ensure that the Veterans Administration has the capacity
and the resources to do right by our veterans, to respect the rights of
its union employees, to provide the needed services, and as you
mentioned earlier, to make sure that they get critical healthcare.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).
The amendment was agreed to.

{time} 0930

Amendment No. 14 Offered by Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 14
printed in House Report 116-6.
Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak on my
amendment to H.R. 840, Kuster amendment No. 14.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 2, line 3, insert ``to'' after ``required''.
Page 2, after line 24, insert the following:
``(3) The Secretary shall establish criteria for providing
child care assistance under paragraph (1) designed to ensure
reasonable access to such assistance for veterans who
experience any unusual or excessive burden to accessing child
care services, including excessive driving distances,
geographic challenges, and other environmental factors that
impede such access.''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 105, the gentlewoman
from New Hampshire (Ms. Kuster) and a Member opposed each will control
5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Hampshire.
Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Chairman, first, I thank the members
of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and our new leader, Mark
Takano. Time and again, this committee proves that Congress can work
across the aisle to pass commonsense policy to improve the lives of our
Nation's veterans. I also thank Congresswoman Julia Brownley, my good
friend and colleague, for improving the availability of childcare
services for veterans seeking mental health treatment.
That is why I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 840, the Veterans' Access
to Child Care Act, and it is also why I proudly offer this amendment.
My amendment would ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
develops and provides criteria to VA medical centers that account for
access challenges when deciding what type of assistance to provide
these veterans.
This Congress has recognized since at least 2014 that burdens to
access are a significant barrier to receiving the quality healthcare
that veterans want and deserve from our VA. Mental healthcare is no
different.
In fact, access challenges are even more acute for mental health. We
know that an alarmingly small percentage of eligible veterans seek
mental health treatment, and we know that the veteran community is in
crisis over suicide. We must do everything we can to ease the burden to
access.
My amendment would address one of those access challenges that faces
rural veterans daily. It is tough enough for veterans in my home State
of New Hampshire who have to drive hours, sometimes through rain or
snow, to receive the high-quality services at VA medical centers. They
should be afforded the opportunity to place their children at childcare
services closer to home to ease at least one burden, caring for a child
while traveling.
But my amendment would also require the VA to provide childcare
assistance that is convenient to the veteran rather than the
contracting office. If the VA cannot provide services at the facility
and instead must provide services in the community, veterans should not
have to drive across town to drop off their children.
Childcare assistance should be provided in a way that eases burdens
and accounts for geography and long driving distances.
In requiring the Secretary to develop criteria, my amendment will
force consistency in furnishing this benefit and, more importantly,
require the Department to really consider what it means for veterans
seeking mental healthcare while also actively caring for their
children.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment, and I am
grateful for the wonderful work the gentleman does on behalf of our
Nation's veterans.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in
opposition, although I am not opposed.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for
5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment sponsored by
Congresswoman Kuster to require VA to establish criteria for childcare
assistance for veterans who experience unusual or excessive burdens
when trying to access those childcare services.
Approximately 40 percent of veteran patients live in rural or highly
rural areas. Those veterans have unique barriers both to healthcare and
to childcare, and VA must take those barriers into consideration when
it is designing this program.
I thank my good friend, Congresswoman Kuster, who is a tireless
advocate for veterans in New Hampshire. Congresswoman Kuster and I
spent Thanksgiving a couple years ago in Afghanistan, visiting our
troops. I know her love for veterans and her commitment to that and her
work on this amendment. I am pleased to join her in supporting it.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from
Tennessee for his kind words.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Takano).
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
I support this amendment offered by Congresswoman Kuster, a former
member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and a tireless advocate for
veterans in the State of New Hampshire. I am pleased that our
colleague, Congressman Pappas from New Hampshire, has joined our
committee so that we can continue to work on veterans legislation for
the veterans of the State of New Hampshire and across the country.
This amendment will require the VA to establish criteria for
childcare assistance for veterans who need to drive long distances or
face other unique geographic challenges. I believe that this amendment
would also address some of the concerns raised by our colleague Mr.
Sablan from the Northern Mariana Islands, where veterans must cross the
Pacific Ocean to access VA healthcare. I also thank the gentlewoman for
including a technical fix for the underlying bill in her amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to
support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to
support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Kuster).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 15 Offered by Mr. Delgado

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 15
printed in House Report 116-6.

[[Page H1472]]

Mr. DELGADO. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 2, line 9, insert ``or extended day program'' after
``child care center''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 105, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Delgado) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
Mr. DELGADO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
No veteran in Upstate New York or across the country should have to
forgo healthcare because they can't access childcare services. My
amendment adds emergency mental healthcare as a covered healthcare
service for veterans under H.R. 840.
As it now reads, the bill provides for regular and intensive care,
such as monthly VA medical appointments. However, it does not account
for unscheduled appointments that, sadly, can make the difference
between life and death. What if there is no time for an appointment?
What if the individual is thinking about harming themselves or others?
My amendment would allow veterans to receive childcare services when
there is an immediate need for assistance due to mental ailment,
whether from addictive opioids, post-traumatic stress disorder, or
depression, just to name a few.
In my district and throughout most of the country, we have seen the
opioid crisis rise to horrific numbers and impact millions of families.
In fact, between 2010 and 2015, studies revealed that the number of
veterans addicted to prescribed opioids grew by more than 50 percent, a
total of 68,000 servicemembers. This is quite a concern. In my
district, I represent more than 39,000 veterans, and much too often,
addiction and mental health are swept under the table.
Mental health should not be treated differently than one's physical
health, and this legislation and proposed amendment take significant
steps to do just that, helping to aid veterans and their respective
families with this fight. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our
country, and when faced with a mental health crisis, it is our
responsibility as a nation to do everything we can to provide for their
well-being.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in
opposition, although I am not opposed.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for
5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congressman Delgado and Congresswoman
Lawrence's amendment to expand the definition of childcare services to
include extended daycare programs.
Many schools offer childcare in the morning or evening hours to
accommodate the busy schedules of working parents. If those programs
are a better fit for the children of veterans seeking childcare
assistance under this bill, it only makes sense for VA to have the
flexibility to use them.
That said, I have questions about this amendment that I believe could
have been addressed had this bill gone through regular order. For
example, would this amendment permit veterans whose children are
already involved in these programs to deduct a portion of the cost when
they are seeking care, or does this only cover drop-in care?
I am grateful to Congressman Delgado for his work on this amendment,
and I hope that we can work with Chairman Takano to address these
questions.
Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DELGADO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano).
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I support this amendment because veterans should be able to receive
stipends for extended day programs for their children. Extended day
programs are before- or after-school childcare programs that are
generally less expensive than traditional childcare services and often
include tutoring or other academic assistance to children.
If placing children in an extended day program is a convenient way
for veterans to make sure their children are being cared for while they
attend their healthcare appointments, we should support making this
alternative and often less expensive childcare service available to
them.
Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to
do the same.
Mr. DELGADO. Again, Mr. Chairman, I thank Congresswoman Brownley and
Chairman Takano for their efforts to get H.R. 840 to the House floor. I
urge both sides of the aisle to support this amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Delgado).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 16 Offered by Mr. Delgado

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 16
printed in House Report 116-6.
Mr. DELGADO. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 3, line 16, strike ``or'';
Page 3, after line 16, insert the following:
``(C) emergency mental health care services; or''.
Page 3, line 17, strike ``(C)'' and insert ``(D)''.

[[Page H1473]]

Mr. TAKANO. That is correct.

{time} 0945

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of
Representatives Delgado, Harder, and Stefanik's amendment to include
emergency mental healthcare under the definition of a covered health
service.
It is a tragedy and a tragic fact that approximately 20 veterans die
every day by suicide. We have perhaps no greater calling on the
Veterans' Affairs Committee than doing all we can do to lower and
eliminate that number.
A veteran in crisis must have the benefit of every available support
to get them through that crisis and on a path to healing. This
amendment will ensure that the lack of childcare won't be a barrier to
care for a veteran in crisis.
Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DELGADO. Mr. Chairman, again, I have to thank Congresswoman
Brownley and Chairman Takano for their efforts to get H.R. 840 on the
House floor.
I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Delgado).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 17 Offered by Mr. Golden

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 17
printed in House Report 116-6.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 3, line 14, after ``services'' insert ``, including
health care services provided as part of readjustment
counseling''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 105, the gentleman
from Maine (Mr. Golden) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maine.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I want to start, first of all, by thanking the
chair and ranking member of the committee, Chairman Takano and Ranking
Member Roe. I appreciate their work on this bill and the committee
bringing this forward so early on in the year.
I also want to thank Congresswoman Ann Kuster for cosponsoring this
amendment.
I offer this as one of many veterans who has depended on VA mental
health services. Like so many other veterans, I was diagnosed with
post-traumatic stress after my service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
When I returned home to Maine after completing my service, I
struggled a bit. It took me over a year to accept that I actually
needed help of any kind, but when I did finally get to that point, one
thing that helped me was readjustment counseling at a local vet center.
Readjustment counseling is another term for mental health services
that help veterans and their families transition from the battlefield
to civilian life. Readjustment counseling helped me to better
understand that the physical and emotional reactions I had returning
from Iraq were, in fact, normal. Once I understood this, it became
easier for me to deal with these reactions head-on.
I know firsthand how easy it is for real life to get in the way of
seeking the mental healthcare that a veteran needs. You will make
almost any excuse that might come your way--or reasonable excuse,
sometimes--to avoid seeking these services, so I think it is important
to knock down those barriers and make it as easy as possible for
veterans to access the ability to go to an appointment.
Knowing how difficult it can be sometimes when life gets in the way,
I am not surprised that 10 percent of veterans have had to cancel a
necessary VA appointment because they didn't have childcare. When you
consider that number, it is clear that veterans and their families
sometimes need access to childcare so they can get to their mental
healthcare appointment.
This bill, the Veterans' Access to Childcare Act, makes that
childcare available to vets and their families when they need it.
None of my fellow veterans should have to choose between caring for
their children and getting the mental healthcare that they need; and,
just like I did, many veterans need readjustment counseling. My
amendment makes sure that readjustment counseling services are covered
under this bill.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support
this important amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment, although I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for
5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of
Congressman Golden and Congresswoman Kuster's amendment to expand the
healthcare services under which a veteran would be eligible to receive
childcare assistance to include readjustment counseling.
The readjustment counseling provided through vet centers is an
important component of VA's mental healthcare system of care. I commend
Congressman Golden and Congresswoman Kuster for making sure that
veterans in need of childcare assistance so that they can attend
appointments at vet centers are able to receive that assistance.
I thank Congressman Golden for his service to our great country. I
think we owe the gentleman a great debt of gratitude and welcome him
here to the House floor.
Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this
amendment today, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano).
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and let me
also associate myself with the remarks of the ranking member. I thank
Congressman Golden for his service and, more importantly, thank him for
sharing his story so bravely and forthrightly on the House floor. I
hope it will do much to encourage other veterans to seek counseling
with the VA.
I support this amendment because the transition from military to
civilian life can be a stressful time for many veterans. When veterans
are simultaneously caring for children, it can be difficult for
veterans, during this time when they may be looking for or starting a
new job or starting school, to get the mental health services they
need. They should not be worried about finding and affording childcare
so they can receive mental health counseling and healthcare treatment
when the VA can provide it at no cost.
Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for offering this important
amendment.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment; I
encourage my colleagues to support it; and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I also want, in closing, to urge all of our
colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Golden).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 18 Offered by Mr. Golden

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 18
printed in House Report 116-6.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill, insert the following:
(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the
effectiveness and accessibility of the child care assistance
provided under section 1710D of title 38, United States Code,
as added by this section, for eligible individuals who reside
in rural and highly rural areas.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 105, the gentleman
from Maine (Mr. Golden) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maine.

[[Page H1474]]

Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I also want to thank Congressman Roe for his
service as well, and I appreciate the gentleman recognizing that for me
as well.
Having already thanked, with the previous amendment, the chairman and
ranking member, I want to thank Congressman Brindisi for cosponsoring
this amendment. The gentleman comes from a place similar to mine, a
very rural area, which leads me to the subject of the amendment.
Too often in this country, I think that Congress can make laws that
benefit cities and urban areas without understanding fully how those
laws impact rural communities. I represent Maine. It is one of our
country's most rural States.
Almost a quarter of all veterans in the United States, about 4.7
million, return from active military careers to reside in a rural
community where they experience the many rural healthcare challenges
that are only intensified by combat-related injuries and illnesses.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 58 percent of rural
veterans are enrolled in the VA healthcare system, significantly higher
than the 37 percent enrollment rate of urban veterans. In rural areas,
basic levels of healthcare or preventive care may not be available to
support residents' long-term health and well-being.
Compared to urban areas, rural communities tend to have higher
poverty rates, more elderly residents, and fewer physician practices,
hospitals, and other health delivery services.
The Veterans' Access to Child Care Act would help our veterans and
their families get the care that they need, but the program has to work
just as well for veterans in rural areas as it does for veterans in
urban regions. I offer a second amendment today that would help ensure
this new program works for veterans living in rural areas.
The amendment would require the VA to study whether the VA childcare
program is as effective and accessible for veterans in rural and very
rural areas so that the program can later be improved upon if it falls
short in helping rural veterans.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment, although I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. McEachin). Without objection, the gentleman is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of
Congressmen Golden and Brindisi's amendment requiring a report
regarding the accessibility and effectiveness of the childcare
assistance program for veterans living in rural and highly rural areas.
As I said earlier this morning when discussing Congresswoman Kuster's
amendment, approximately 40 percent of veterans live in rural or highly
rural areas. Those veterans have unique access needs, and VA must be
mindful when creating this program.
Mr. Chair, I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting
this amendment today, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano).
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I support this amendment because veterans living in rural or highly
rural areas face many barriers to receiving healthcare. Childcare,
whether for a lack of convenience or its high cost, should not be
another roadblock for veterans who must sometimes travel great
distances for their appointments.
This amendment would require VA to report to Congress on the
effectiveness and accessibility of no-cost childcare for veterans
living in rural communities. This report can, in turn, be used to find
solutions for veterans who need both childcare and healthcare in rural
communities.
Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for offering this amendment, and I
urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment; I
encourage my colleagues to support this amendment; and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I would like to end, again, by urging all of
my colleagues to support this amendment as well, and I want to thank
the chairman, the ranking member, and the entire committee and Rules
Committee for entertaining these two very important amendments.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Golden).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 19 Offered by Ms. Sherrill

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 19
printed in House Report 116-6.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I have the amendment at the desk made in
order by the rule.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 2, line 5, strike ``Child care'' and insert ``Subject
to subsection (c), child care''.
Page 2, after line 24, insert the following:
``(c) Requirements; Rule of Construction.--(1) In
accordance with paragraph (2), a child care center, child
care agency, or any other child care provider described in
subsection (b) may not provide child care under this section
if the center, agency, or provider employs an individual who
has been convicted of a sex crime, an offense involving a
child victim, a violent crime, a drug felony, or other
offense the Secretary determines appropriate.
``(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall supersede, nullify, or
diminish any Federal or State law (including any local law or
ordinance), contract, agreement, policy, plan, practice, or
other matter that establishes standards and requirements for
employees of child care centers, child care agencies, or
other child care providers described in subsection (b) that
are more restrictive than the requirements specified in
paragraph (1).''.
Page 2, line 25, strike ``(c)'' and insert ``(d)''.

{time} 1000

This includes local veterans I have spoken to at our American Legion
in Woodland Park, who are working parents with small children. They
have remarked that the extension of this program could be a significant
benefit to the veteran community in New Jersey. This bill means less
stress for our veterans who would need to otherwise arrange for
childcare to make an appointment. They have also told me that this bill
will help veterans make and attend appointments because they wouldn't
have to worry about arranging childcare. This acknowledges both the
needs of our veterans and creates a support network for them.
I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the
balance of my time.

[[Page H1475]]

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment, although I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for
5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of
Congresswoman Sherrill's amendment, which would prohibit childcare
providers from providing childcare assistance under this program if
they employ an individual convicted of a sex crime, an offense
involving a child victim, a violent crime, or a drug felony.
It would also stipulate that the requirements in this bill are not
intended to lower any Federal, State, or local standards for hiring or
screening childcare centers.
I thank Congresswoman Sherrill for introducing this thoughtful
amendment that recognizes that the children of veterans accessing
childcare assistance under this bill must be cared for in the safest
environment possible.
This amendment is a no-brainer, and I encourage all of my colleagues
to join me in supporting it.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano).
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I
also thank the gentlewoman for her service in our military as a Navy
pilot.
I support this very important amendment because veterans must be able
to trust that childcare centers and childcare providers caring for
their children will not place their children at risk.
At a very minimum, the veterans should know that when they receive
their health services, their children are safe. This amendment would
prevent an onsite VA childcare center, or any childcare agency that has
a contract with VA, from employing anyone convicted of sex crimes,
offenses involving a child victim, violent crimes, drug felonies, or
other offenses.
Since State and local laws often have even stricter standards when it
comes to who can be employed as a childcare provider, this amendment
would not supersede those State or local laws or any contract or
agreement that requires higher standards to be met.
At the very minimum, veterans who need childcare so they can see
their healthcare providers must trust that those who are watching their
children will keep their kids safe. I thank the gentlewoman for
offering this very important amendment.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I support this commonsense
amendment and encourage my colleagues to do so also.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I have no other speakers, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment offered by Ms. Sherrill to the underlying bill.
While I support the underlying bill, this amendment is overly broad
in that it would prohibit qualified individuals from being employed
under the bill if they had ever been convicted of a drug felony or any
violent crime, even a misdemeanor. I support the other exclusions
included in the amendment.
The collateral consequences faced by individuals convicted of drug
felonies, such as denial of employment when otherwise qualified, is
counterproductive to the goal of reducing recidivism.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New Jersey
will be postponed.

Amendment No. 20 Offered by Ms. Sherrill

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 20
printed in House Report 116-6.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 3, line 15, insert ``, including counseling and care
and services under section 1720D of this title'' before the
semicolon.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 105, the gentlewoman
from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Jersey.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to the
Veterans' Access to Child Care Act, which will specifically include
military sexual trauma counseling and care services in the definition
of services eligible for childcare at a VA center clinic.
We ask our servicemembers to risk their lives and their health on
behalf of our country. They take care of us, and it is our duty to take
care of them, especially after they leave the military.
Over the summer, I spoke to veterans in my district in New Jersey
about the inadequacies they see in VA services for this generation of
returning servicemembers.
I heard from female servicemembers about the need for better
counseling services for victims of military sexual trauma, or MST.
Several of the female veterans at a roundtable I held this summer
remarked on the fact that their voices were not heard in either the
planning of services or implementation of services.
Many of their fellow veterans did not make important appointments due
to lack of access to childcare. Certainly, as a mother, I would not
feel comfortable attending counseling and relating a story of sexual
assault to a counselor in front of my children.
This amendment is just one step in what must be an ongoing effort in
this Congress to address military sexual assault trauma. The Department
of Defense estimates that in 2016, 14,900 Active Duty servicemembers,
men and women, experience a sexual assault.
While this number is much lower than the 34,000 Active Duty
servicemembers who are believed to have experienced a sexual assault in
2006, the armed services still has a long way to go to address military
sexual assault in the ranks.
The female veterans in my community have remarked that because of the
trauma of military sexual trauma, women often do not report it, and,
therefore, the number of veterans who have been sexually assaulted is
woefully underreported.
These are the invisible wounds of war--invisible trauma that we
cannot see as our servicemembers return home. I am particularly
concerned that victims of sexual trauma, which is prevalent in military
and civilian populations, are not getting the services that they need.
This amendment will ensure survivors are treated with the dignity and
respect they deserve when trying to access care at the VA without
worrying about the cost or availability of childcare.
I take this opportunity to thank some of the veteran service groups
in our district, like Welcome Home Vets and SOS Stakeholders, who
support our veterans, give feedback to the VA on the needs of our
servicemembers, and work tirelessly to connect service providers with
veterans.
I also thank Congresswoman Kuster and Congresswoman Moore for
cosponsoring this amendment and their tireless advocacy for our
veterans.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment, although I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for
5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of
Congresswomen Sherrill, Kuster, and Moore's amendment to include mental
healthcare provided for the treatment of military sexual trauma, MST,
under the definition of a ``covered health service.''
Sexual trauma can have wide-ranging implications on a person's
physical and mental health. I am grateful to the sponsors of this
amendment for making sure that MST is specifically included in this
legislation so that veterans who have suffered this terrible crime will
face one less barrier to obtaining care. I am happy to support this
amendment

[[Page H1476]]

and urge all of my colleagues to join me.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano).
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I
support this amendment because veterans, especially women veterans, who
have been victims of military sexual trauma, often need intensive
healthcare services and mental health treatment that can require
frequent appointments at VA medical centers, clinics, and vet centers.
Finding convenient, safe, and affordable childcare should not stop
veterans from receiving treatment, especially veterans who are victims
of sexual assault in the military and suffer from the lasting effects
of that trauma.
This committee, through the Women Veterans Task Force, led by
Congresswoman Brownley, will make access to care for women veterans and
their specific healthcare needs a priority of ours. I support this
amendment and urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues
to support this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 21 Offered by Ms. Slotkin

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 21
printed in House Report 116-6.
Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of section 2, add the following new subsection:
(c) Authority to Consult With Secretary of Defense.--In
implementing section 1730D of title 38, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
may consult with the Secretary of Defense.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 105, the gentlewoman
from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.
Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R.
840, the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act.
As a former national security official, as the wife of a retired Army
officer, and a stepmom to a new Army lieutenant, I strongly support
H.R. 840, the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act, and any legislation
that helps our veterans access and use VA healthcare that they have
earned and to which they are entitled.
My amendment would take a simple but important step toward better
serving military families and veterans. Specifically, it would
authorize the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs to consult with the
Secretary of Defense in implementing this legislation.
The need for better DOD-VA coordination on every front is not new.
From education to job training and healthcare, Congress has taken many
steps to encourage, to prod, to require, and, in some cases, to demand
that DOD and the VA work together and better coordinate the services
they provide to military families and veterans.
And as I can tell you from very personal experience, you do not have
to spend much time with veterans in my district to know the stories of
faulty connections, gaps in communication, and mismatched systems that
confound our ability to serve military families and veterans evenly.
I am standing here today because I believe we should take every
opportunity to encourage the kind of coordination that eases these
connections. Childcare is an area in which DOD and the VA can and
should collaborate more closely, especially as the two departments work
to better coordinate the provision of healthcare benefits to millions
of retirees and their families.
The Veterans' Access to Child Care Act would add valuable childcare
services to VA patients to help them keep vital medical appointments
that they might otherwise have missed in the absence of childcare
options.
Simultaneously, the Department of Defense has been working to expand
childcare options for military families, addressing an urgent need for
services that don't just care for families, but contribute to military
readiness.
Both of these efforts are vitally important, which means that the
Department of Defense and VA should look for any opportunity to work
together and expand childcare options for the families they serve.
What's more, thousands of military members on Active Duty and in the
Reserve component are married to veterans. Thousands of dual military
families today will eventually become military and veteran families
tomorrow, and my stepdaughter is married to a military officer, so this
one is particularly personal.
This is just another reason that coordination between the Department
of Defense and VA childcare programs can help us better serve these
populations.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to push for
stronger coordination between the VA and the Department of Defense.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment, although I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Tennessee is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of
Congresswoman Slotkin's amendment to authorize consultation between the
Secretaries of Defense and Veterans' Affairs in the implementation of
this childcare assistance program.
Ensuring greater collaboration between VA and DOD has long been a
priority of mine, so I am pleased to support this amendment today.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano).
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise
to support this amendment because it would allow the VA to consult with
the Department of Defense on the implementation of this bill.
Since DOD provides childcare for servicemembers and their families,
VA can look to DOD for best practices so that it can successfully and
efficiently expand this program so that every veteran eligible for no-
cost childcare while they are receiving healthcare services can access
this benefit when they need it.
I thank the Congresswoman for offering this amendment, and I urge my
colleagues to support it. I might also add that I am pleased to see so
many of the amendments that my colleagues offered today are adopted. I
hope that when we vote on this much improved bill, it will pass with
unanimous support so that I can advocate for its swift passage with my
Senate colleagues.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I support this commonsense
amendment and encourage my colleagues to do so.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

{time} 1015

Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin).
The amendment was agreed to.

Announcement by the Acting Chair

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, proceedings
will now resume on those amendments printed in House Report 116-6 on
which further proceedings were postponed, in the following order:
Amendment No. 4 by Mr. Bergman of Michigan; and
Amendment No. 19 by Ms. Sherrill of New Jersey.
The Chair will reduce to 2 minutes the minimum time for any
electronic vote after the first vote in this series.

Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Bergman

The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan
(Mr. Bergman) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the ayes prevailed by voice vote.

[[Page H1477]]

The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.

Recorded Vote

The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 172,
noes 246, not voting 20, as follows:

[Roll No. 72]

AYES--172

Abraham
Aderholt
Allen
Amash
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bergman
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Bost
Brady
Buck
Bucshon
Budd
Burchett
Burgess
Calvert
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chabot
Cheney
Cline
Cloud
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comer
Conaway
Cook
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
Davidson (OH)
Davis, Rodney
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Duffy
Duncan
Dunn
Emmer
Estes
Ferguson
Fleischmann
Flores
Fortenberry
Foxx (NC)
Fulcher
Gallagher
Gianforte
Gibbs
Gooden
Gosar
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hagedorn
Harris
Hartzler
Hern, Kevin
Hice (GA)
Higgins (LA)
Hill (AR)
Holding
Hollingsworth
Huizenga
Hunter
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger
Kustoff (TN)
LaHood
Lamborn
Latta
Lesko
Long
Loudermilk
Luetkemeyer
Marchant
Marshall
Massie
Mast
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McKinley
Meadows
Meuser
Miller
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Mullin
Newhouse
Norman
Nunes
Olson
Palazzo
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Posey
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reschenthaler
Rice (SC)
Riggleman
Roby
Rodgers (WA)
Roe, David P.
Rogers (KY)
Rooney (FL)
Rose, John W.
Rouzer
Roy
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Shimkus
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smucker
Spano
Stauber
Steil
Stewart
Taylor
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Timmons
Tipton
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Waltz
Watkins
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Westerman
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Wright
Yoho
Young
Zeldin

NOES--246

Adams
Aguilar
Axne
Barragan
Bass
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brindisi
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Brown (MD)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Bustos
Butterfield
Byrne
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson (IN)
Cartwright
Case
Casten (IL)
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Cohen
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Cox (CA)
Craig
Crist
Crow
Cuellar
Cummings
Cunningham
Davids (KS)
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny K.
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Delgado
Demings
DeSaulnier
Deutch
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Engel
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Finkenauer
Fitzpatrick
Fletcher
Foster
Frankel
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Golden
Gomez
Gonzalez (OH)
Gonzalez (TX)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Gottheimer
Green (TX)
Grijalva
Haaland
Harder (CA)
Hastings
Hayes
Heck
Herrera Beutler
Higgins (NY)
Hill (CA)
Himes
Horn, Kendra S.
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hudson
Hurd (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (TX)
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim
Kind
Kirkpatrick
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster (NH)
Lamb
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lawrence
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Levin (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujan
Luria
Lynch
Malinowski
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Maloney, Sean
Matsui
McAdams
McBath
McCollum
McEachin
McGovern
McHenry
McNerney
Meeks
Meng
Mitchell
Morelle
Moulton
Mucarsel-Powell
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Norcross
Norton
O'Halleran
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Perlmutter
Peters
Peterson
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Price (NC)
Quigley
Raskin
Rice (NY)
Richmond
Rogers (AL)
Rose (NY)
Rouda
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan
Sablan
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Shalala
Sherman
Sherrill
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Soto
Spanberger
Speier
Stanton
Stefanik
Stevens
Stivers
Suozzi
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres Small (NM)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Upton
Van Drew
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Welch
Wexton
Wild
Yarmuth

NOT VOTING--20

Allred
Clyburn
Connolly
Dingell
Gaetz
Gohmert
Huffman
Jones
Kennedy
LaMalfa
Lawson (FL)
Lucas
Moore
Radewagen
Rutherford
San Nicolas
Steube
Watson Coleman
Wenstrup
Wilson (FL

{time} 1043

Messrs. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, HUDSON, MITCHELL, McHENRY,
STIVERS, DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER, Messrs. LEWIS,
GONZALEZ of Texas, BUCHANAN, CLEAVER, FITZPATRICK, Mmes. BASS and
TORRES SMALL of New Mexico changed their vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
Messrs. TAYLOR, DIAZ-BALART, WALKER, and KING of New York changed
their vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
(By unanimous consent, Mr. Hoyer was allowed to speak out of order.)

Moment of Silence in Memory of the Honorable John David Dingell, Jr.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chairman, my fellow colleagues, I rise with great
sadness to announce the passing of one of this House's great and good
Members, former Representative John David Dingell, Jr., who served in
this House for almost a full six decades. His father preceded him for
22 years, and his wife, our beloved colleague, Debbie Dingell, serves
now.
At the request of his beloved wife, I have the sad task of informing
the House that John died yesterday after a long, distinguished, and
committed career of service to community, to this House, and to his
country.
John served with honor in wartime and with distinction in this House.
He worked for the advancement of his fellow veterans and their care and
benefits in peacetime, and he fought all of his life for fairness and
opportunity for all. He defended vigorously the working men and women
of the auto industry and working families everywhere.
His wit, his humor brought smiles to our faces, and his fearless
questions of witnesses in committee brought grimaces to those who
believed they had undermined the safety and health of our citizens.
Much will be said. I know that each of you have your own memory of
Chairman Dingell. I know that each of you will want to rise at some
point in time over the next number of days to give your observations of
this colleague with whom we were honored to serve.
Let us begin our remembrances of him, however, by celebrating the
love that he had for this great institution about which he cared so
deeply. He believed its powers to be: improving people's lives and
delivering on the promises of those who came before us and to those who
will come after us.
May John's legacy guide us forward as we seek to make this House all
he believed it could be and all he did to make it so better than it
might have been.
I now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the
distinguished Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his beautiful
statement of our beloved Mr. Dingell, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chair, again, as he mentioned last night, our Nation lost a
beloved pillar of this Congress and one of the greatest legislators in
American history.
Every chapter of Chairman John Dingell's life was lived in service to
our country, from his time as a House page, as a teenager, to his
service in the Army during World War II, to his almost six decades
serving the people of Michigan in the U.S. Congress.
John Dingell leaves a towering legacy of unshakeable strength,
boundless energy, and transformative leadership. Chairman Dingell had a
hand in crafting many major legislative accomplishments over the past
half century,

[[Page H1478]]

yet among the vast array of historic legislative achievements, few hold
greater meaning than his tireless commitment to the health of the
American people.
During every Congress since 1955, Chairman Dingell introduced
legislation to secure affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans.
Because of his father's legacy, which our distinguished leader has
referenced, and his own leadership, in 1965, he gaveled Medicare into
law. In 2010, it was my privilege to hold that same gavel as we passed
the Affordable Care Act.
Chairman Dingell was our distinguished dean and chairman, our
legendary colleague, and a beloved friend. His memory will stand as an
inspiration to all who worked with him or for him or had the pleasure
of knowing him.
His leadership will endure in the lives of the millions of American
families he touched. We hope it is a comfort to Chairman Dingell's
beloved wife, dear Deborah, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and their
entire family that so many people mourn their loss and pray for them at
this sad time.
I am pleased to mention that the flag is flying half-staff over the
Capitol in his memory and invite Members to sign the condolence book in
the Speaker's lobby.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chair, I thank the Speaker for her retelling, very
briefly, the extraordinary record of our friend and colleague, John
Dingell, who made America better, who made this House better, and who
believed that in doing so, it was critically important to reach across
the aisle, to have legislation that would enjoy the support of both
sides of the aisle.
In that regard, I am blessed now to yield to the gentleman from
California (Mr. McCarthy), the Republican leader and my friend.
Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Chair, I also rise to commemorate the incredible
life and career of John Dingell, the former dean of this House.
Few individuals have amassed a record of public service that could
rival John's, and I will bet no one will ever match it--59 years as an
elected Representative.
In fact, his interest in politics began during his time as a
congressional page, where he personally witnessed FDR's ``a day that
will live in infamy'' speech from this very podium.
Take one moment to think of the life that this man has witnessed on
this floor.
John taught us that public service is not a sprint, but a marathon.
There are many lessons in his life that we can learn from, but I hope
we take that lesson every day when we come to work here.
Another lesson I hope we learn is the one how I first met John. He
was an icon before I got here. But I watched the respect, not from his
own colleagues in his own party, but the respect from across the aisle.
They went to John for advice. When he walked on the floor, there were
many on our side who stood around him to question him where he thought
we could go.
He believed in this House; he believed in this country.
He had great passions: passion for his constituents; passion for his
committee, Energy and Commerce. He loved that committee so much, he
thought there needed to be no other committee in this House. It wasn't
until his retirement that we got jurisdiction back in other places.

But he understood an ever-changing world, if you can only imagine
serving that long. He was able to adapt, which we should learn from
him, too.
Yes, the new world of social media many would think would pass him by
because of his age. He was one of the first I would follow on Twitter.
And this is a lesson that this House, in a bipartisan manner, should
take. It is one of my favorite tweets from John. It came in July of
2017. He wrote: ``I've been trying to repeal and replace the United
States Senate since 1955. No luck.''
Yes, we are sad today, but he lived a life we could admire. I may
have differences of opinion and philosophy with him, but I admired his
will to fight for what he believed in. I admired the way he treated
people who had different beliefs, and I admired the way he believed all
sides should be heard.
I speak for everyone on this side of the aisle to convey our deepest
sympathies, and to Debbie, and I ask that we lift him up in our prayers
to God for his soul to rest peacefully, and to remember what he truly
believed: public service matters; this country matters; and the ability
to work together so all Americans will have a better tomorrow matters.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chair, I thank the majority leader for his remarks.
Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for the promotion.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chair, the spirit of John Dingell was so present in
that remark.
Now, John Dingell apparently was not always right. He wanted to
repeal the Senate, but then he wanted to replace it.
Mr. Chair, John Dingell, I will tell you, I was with him Wednesday
from approximately 4 p.m. on Wednesday until 6:30 p.m., and Debbie was
there. Your dad was there, Andy, our dear colleague. Sandy Levin was
there and John Orlando, who served with John on the Energy and Commerce
Committee for such a great time. He remembered all of you. He asked me
to give each of you his best, to wish you well, and to say that our
country needs each of us to work together.
Would that we could leave just some of the legacy that John Dingell
has left behind. We are so blessed that we have the opportunity to
serve with his wife, his beloved wife, his lovely Deborah. What an
extraordinary relationship, what an extraordinary man. How lucky we
were and are to serve with them.
The Speaker will be shortly notifying us of when the funeral will be,
opportunities to go to the funeral. There will be a memorial service as
well, here, and probably a service in the Capitol as well. So there
will be opportunities for each of us to stand and testify to the
greatness and goodness of John David Dingell, Jr.
Mr. Chair, I ask all the Members of Congress and all the ladies and
gentlemen in the gallery to join us in a moment of silence in
remembrance of our friend John Dingell.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Pallone). All present will rise and observe a
moment of silence in honor of our beloved John Dingell.

Amendment No. 19 Offered by Ms. Sherrill

The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New
Jersey (Ms. Sherrill) on which further proceedings were postponed and
on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.

Recorded Vote

The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 401,
noes 19, not voting 18, as follows:

[Roll No. 73]

AYES--401

Abraham
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Axne
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (UT)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady
Brindisi
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Brown (MD)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Budd
Burchett
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Byrne
Calvert
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson (IN)
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Case
Casten (IL)
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chabot
Cheney
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Cline
Cloud
Cohen
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comer
Conaway
Cook
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Cox (CA)
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crist
Crow
Cuellar
Cummings
Cunningham
Curtis
Davids (KS)
Davis (CA)
Davis, Rodney
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Delgado
Demings
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Duffy
Duncan
Dunn
Emmer
Engel
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ferguson
Finkenauer
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flores
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx (NC)
Frankel
Fulcher
Gabbard
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi

[[Page H1479]]

Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Gianforte
Gibbs
Gohmert
Golden
Gomez
Gonzalez (OH)
Gonzalez (TX)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Gooden
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green (TX)
Griffith
Grijalva
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Haaland
Hagedorn
Harder (CA)
Hartzler
Hastings
Hayes
Heck
Hern, Kevin
Herrera Beutler
Hice (GA)
Higgins (LA)
Higgins (NY)
Hill (AR)
Hill (CA)
Himes
Holding
Hollingsworth
Horn, Kendra S.
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hudson
Huizenga
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (TX)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger
Kirkpatrick
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster (NH)
Kustoff (TN)
LaHood
Lamb
Lamborn
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
Lawrence
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lesko
Levin (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Long
Loudermilk
Lowenthal
Lowey
Luetkemeyer
Lujan
Luria
Lynch
Malinowski
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Maloney, Sean
Marchant
Marshall
Mast
Matsui
McAdams
McBath
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McCollum
McEachin
McGovern
McHenry
McKinley
McNerney
Meadows
Meeks
Meng
Meuser
Miller
Mitchell
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Moore
Morelle
Moulton
Mucarsel-Powell
Mullin
Murphy
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Newhouse
Norcross
Norman
Norton
Nunes
O'Halleran
Olson
Palazzo
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pence
Perlmutter
Perry
Peters
Peterson
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Price (NC)
Quigley
Raskin
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reschenthaler
Rice (NY)
Rice (SC)
Riggleman
Roby
Rodgers (WA)
Roe, David P.
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rooney (FL)
Rose (NY)
Rose, John W.
Rouda
Rouzer
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan
Sablan
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Shalala
Sherman
Sherrill
Shimkus
Simpson
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Soto
Spanberger
Spano
Speier
Stanton
Stauber
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Stivers
Suozzi
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Taylor
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Timmons
Tipton
Titus
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres Small (NM)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Upton
Van Drew
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watkins
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Welch
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Wright
Yarmuth
Yoho
Young
Zeldin

NOES--19

Amash
Bass
Biggs
Davidson (OH)
Davis, Danny K.
Fudge
Gosar
Harris
Jayapal
Johnson (GA)
Massie
Nadler
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pressley
Richmond
Roy
Scott (VA)
Tlaib

NOT VOTING--18

Allred
Clyburn
Connolly
Dingell
Gaetz
Huffman
Jones
Kennedy
LaMalfa
Lawson (FL)
Lucas
Radewagen
Rutherford
San Nicolas
Steube
Watson Coleman
Wenstrup
Wilson (FL)

{time} 1104

Mrs. BEATTY changed her vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment in the nature of a
substitute, as amended.
The amendment was agreed to.
The Acting CHAIR. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Butterfield) having assumed the chair, Mr. Pallone, Acting Chair of the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 840) to
amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to provide child care assistance to veterans receiving certain
medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and,
pursuant to House Resolution 105, he reported the bill back to the
House with an amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is
ordered.
Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment to the amendment
reported from the Committee of the Whole?
If not, the question is on the amendment in the nature of a
substitute, as amended.
The amendment was agreed to.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third
reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was
read the third time.

Motion to Recommit

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?
Mr. BARR. I am in its current form.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to
recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:

Mr. Barr moves to recommit the bill H.R. 840 to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs with instructions to report
the same back to the House forthwith, with the following
amendment:
At the end of section 1730D of title 38, United States
Code, as proposed to be added by section 2 of the bill, add
the following new subsection:
``(e) Additional Requirements for Child Care Providers.--
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no payment may be made under
this section to a child care center, child care agency, or
child care provider described in subsection (b) that employs
an individual who has been charged with--
``(A) a sex offense;
``(B) an offense involving a child victim;
``(C) a violent crime;
``(D) a drug felony; or
``(E) other offense that the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(2) Payment may be made under this section to a child
care center, child care agency, or child care provider
described in subsection (b) if such child care center, child
care agency, or child care provider has suspended the
individual described in paragraph (1) from having any contact
with children while on the job until the case is resolved.''.

Mr. BARR (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
to dispense with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Kentucky is recognized
for 5 minutes.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, just a few minutes ago, we adopted, by a
recorded vote, a commonsense amendment offered by Congresswoman Mikie
Sherrill from New Jersey. Congresswoman Sherrill's amendment would
prohibit a childcare center, agency, or provider from caring for the
children of our Nation's veterans as authorized by this bill if they
employ an individual who has been convicted of a sex crime, a violent
crime, a drug felony, or another offense the VA considers appropriate.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud Congresswoman Sherrill for offering her
amendment, which I was pleased to join my colleagues in supporting on a
bipartisan basis. However, Ms. Sherrill's amendment failed to address
another troubling situation, a situation that, if this bill had gone
through regular order, may have been identified.
Specifically, Federal law allows but does not require a childcare
facility operated by a Federal agency or under contract with a Federal
agency to suspend a childcare worker if they have been charged with a
sex crime, an offense involving a child victim, a violent crime, or a
drug felony, but whose charge is still pending.
My motion to recommit, Mr. Speaker, is very simple. It would remove
that discretion and affirmatively prohibit the VA from paying a
childcare provider if they employ an individual who has been charged
with a sex offense, an offense involving a child victim, a violent
crime, a drug felony, or other offense that the Secretary determines
appropriate unless the childcare provider has suspended that individual
from having any contact with any children while on the job until the
case has been resolved.
It can take a considerable amount of time for some cases to proceed
through our criminal justice system. For example, in 2013, a nursing
assistant at the Alexandria VA Healthcare System in

[[Page H1480]]

Pineville, Louisiana, was charged with negligent homicide after a
physical altercation with a veteran patient who later died. In 2018, 5
years later, that case finally came to a resolution when the nursing
assistant pleaded no contest.
During those intervening 5 years, that nursing assistant remained as
a VA employee. He was suspended for some time, but eventually was
brought back to work while the charge was still pending. Imagine if
this individual had been caring for children.
This case illustrates the length of time the judicial process can
take and, regrettably, the need to remove the manager's discretion in
these situations.
Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker. This motion does not presuppose the
guilt of anyone who is charged with one of these crimes; rather, it
acknowledges, like we all did with Ms. Sherrill's amendment, that we
have an obligation to ensure the safety and the well-being of children
who will be cared for under this program.
Congress creates and oversees Federal agencies and the rules by which
they and their employees operate. Just as Congress created existing
guidelines giving agencies the discretion to deny employment for
convicted or charged sex offenders, so, too, can Congress remove that
discretion.

{time} 1115

I am not willing to gamble with the safety of my own children, nor am
I willing to gamble with the safety of our veterans' children either.
Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, any Member here today who votes against
this motion to recommit is voting to potentially expose children to the
care of an individual who has been charged with a serious crime,
including a sex crime against a child.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues for their support of this
commonsense motion to protect the children of the men and women who
have bravely served in uniform.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the motion
to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California is recognized
for 5 minutes.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Lamb), who was a former criminal prosecutor before he arrived in
Congress.
Mr. LAMB. Mr. Speaker, the underlying bill here was made in regular
order, and many amendments were considered, including the amendment we
just voted on. It is an amendment that does keep children safe. In
fact, the way to make a mistake here and ensure that the safety of our
children is in jeopardy would be to defeat this underlying bill.
This underlying bill does what we were sent here to do. It takes an
excellent government program which provides childcare to tens of
thousands of veterans and their families. It takes a program that works
and says we are going to double down when the Veterans Administration
does the right thing and people are satisfied; we will continue that
program.
Instead, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to
interrupt a great program, and when they could have made an amendment
yesterday or when they could introduce new legislation, they want to
sideline this successful program that takes care of children.
We had one veteran tell us that this was the best benefit they had
been extended in exchange for their service since 1992 and that their
child loves the childcare program at the VA, loves the children that
they are included with and the people who watch over them while their
parent can get treatment. There are tens of thousands of people out
there like them.
Mr. Speaker, the motto of the Veterans Administration came from
President Lincoln himself. He dared us to strive on, to finish the work
we are in, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his
widow and his orphan--in other words, to take care of the entire
family.
This is about family, and through the amendment process, we have made
sure that no one will provide childcare to these children who is in
serious trouble. We are doing our job. We will continue to strive on.
There is no reason to get in the way of this excellent bill.
Mr. Speaker, I have learned a lot in my past year of being here. One
important thing that I have learned is that we can always update the
references we have made. I have quoted President Lincoln, but my
colleague from New York (Mr. Jeffries) is also fond of making more
contemporary references.
There is one that occurred to me today as I thought about the message
of this bill. As the Pittsburgh Pirates were racing toward the World
Series in 1979, they adopted as their slogan the words of the disco
stars Sister Sledge: ``We are family.''
Mr. Speaker, that is what this bill is about. We are family. We will
take care of the veterans, and we will take care of their children. We
are family. Now get up everybody and vote against this MTR and for the
underlying bill.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. BARR. The gentleman from Pennsylvania indicated that the effect
of this motion to recommit would kill this bill. We would like a ruling
on that, that the motion to recommit would not kill the bill, that it
would send the bill back to committee to rectify this problem that
jeopardizes the safety and well-being of the children of our veterans.
Is that true, Mr. Speaker?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. If adopted, the effect of the motion will be
that the amendment is reported by the chair of the committee and is
immediately before the House.
Mr. BARR. I thank the Chair for the clarification, Mr. Speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is
ordered on the motion to recommit.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the noes appeared to have it.

Recorded Vote

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, the Chair
will reduce to 5 minutes the minimum time for any electronic vote on
the question of passage.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 200,
noes 214, not voting 18, as follows:

[Roll No. 74]

AYES--200

Abraham
Aderholt
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Axne
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bergman
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Bost
Brady
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Budd
Burchett
Burgess
Byrne
Calvert
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chabot
Cheney
Cline
Cloud
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comer
Conaway
Cook
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cunningham
Curtis
Davids (KS)
Davidson (OH)
Davis, Rodney
Delgado
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Duffy
Duncan
Dunn
Emmer
Estes
Ferguson
Finkenauer
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Flores
Fortenberry
Foxx (NC)
Fulcher
Gallagher
Gianforte
Gibbs
Gohmert
Gonzalez (OH)
Gooden
Gosar
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hagedorn
Harris
Hartzler
Hern, Kevin
Herrera Beutler
Hice (GA)
Higgins (LA)
Hill (AR)
Holding
Hollingsworth
Horn, Kendra S.
Hudson
Huizenga
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Katko
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger
Kustoff (TN)
LaHood
Lamborn
Latta
Lesko
Long
Loudermilk
Luetkemeyer
Luria
Marchant
Marshall
Massie
Mast
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McKinley
Meadows
Meuser
Miller
Mitchell
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Mullin
Newhouse
Norman
Nunes
Olson
Palazzo
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Peterson
Posey
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reschenthaler
Rice (SC)
Riggleman
Roby
Rodgers (WA)
Roe, David P.
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rooney (FL)
Rose, John W.
Rouzer
Roy
Scalise
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Shimkus
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)

[[Page H1481]]

Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spano
Stauber
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Stivers
Taylor
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Timmons
Tipton
Turner
Upton
Van Drew
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Waltz
Watkins
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Westerman
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Wright
Yoho
Young
Zeldin

NOES--214

Adams
Aguilar
Amash
Barragan
Bass
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brindisi
Brown (MD)
Brownley (CA)
Bustos
Butterfield
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson (IN)
Cartwright
Case
Casten (IL)
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Cohen
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Cox (CA)
Craig
Crist
Crow
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny K.
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Demings
DeSaulnier
Deutch
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Engel
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fletcher
Frankel
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Golden
Gomez
Gonzalez (TX)
Green (TX)
Grijalva
Haaland
Harder (CA)
Hastings
Hayes
Heck
Higgins (NY)
Hill (CA)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Jackson Lee
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (TX)
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim
Kind
Kirkpatrick
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster (NH)
Lamb
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lawrence
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Levin (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujan
Lynch
Malinowski
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Maloney, Sean
Matsui
McAdams
McBath
McCollum
McEachin
McGovern
McNerney
Meeks
Meng
Moore
Morelle
Moulton
Mucarsel-Powell
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Norcross
O'Halleran
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Perlmutter
Peters
Phillips
Pingree
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Price (NC)
Quigley
Raskin
Rice (NY)
Richmond
Rose (NY)
Rouda
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Shalala
Sherman
Sherrill
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Soto
Spanberger
Speier
Stanton
Stevens
Suozzi
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres Small (NM)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Welch
Wexton
Wild
Yarmuth

NOT VOTING--18

Allred
Clyburn
Connolly
Dingell
Foster
Gaetz
Huffman
Johnson (LA)
Jones
Kennedy
LaMalfa
Lawson (FL)
Lucas
Rutherford
Steube
Watson Coleman
Wenstrup
Wilson (FL)

{time} 1127

So the motion to recommit was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.

Recorded Vote

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 400,
noes 9, not voting 23, as follows:

[Roll No. 75]

AYES--400

Abraham
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Axne
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Barragan
Bass
Beatty
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (UT)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady
Brindisi
Brooks (IN)
Brown (MD)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Byrne
Calvert
Carbajal
Carson (IN)
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Case
Casten (IL)
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chabot
Cheney
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Cline
Cloud
Cohen
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comer
Conaway
Cook
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Cox (CA)
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crist
Crow
Cuellar
Cummings
Cunningham
Curtis
Davids (KS)
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny K.
Davis, Rodney
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Delgado
Demings
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Duffy
Duncan
Dunn
Emmer
Engel
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ferguson
Finkenauer
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Flores
Fortenberry
Foxx (NC)
Frankel
Fudge
Fulcher
Gabbard
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Gianforte
Gibbs
Gohmert
Golden
Gomez
Gonzalez (OH)
Gonzalez (TX)
Gooden
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green (TX)
Griffith
Grijalva
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Haaland
Hagedorn
Harder (CA)
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings
Hayes
Heck
Hern, Kevin
Herrera Beutler
Hice (GA)
Higgins (LA)
Higgins (NY)
Hill (AR)
Hill (CA)
Himes
Holding
Hollingsworth
Horn, Kendra S.
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hudson
Huizenga
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (TX)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger
Kirkpatrick
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster (NH)
Kustoff (TN)
LaHood
Lamb
Lamborn
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
Lawrence
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lesko
Levin (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Long
Loudermilk
Lowenthal
Lowey
Luetkemeyer
Lujan
Luria
Lynch
Malinowski
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Maloney, Sean
Marshall
Massie
Mast
Matsui
McAdams
McBath
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McCollum
McEachin
McGovern
McHenry
McKinley
McNerney
Meadows
Meeks
Meng
Miller
Mitchell
Moolenaar
Moore
Morelle
Moulton
Mucarsel-Powell
Mullin
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Newhouse
Norcross
Norman
Nunes
O'Halleran
Ocasio-Cortez
Olson
Omar
Palazzo
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pence
Perlmutter
Perry
Peters
Peterson
Phillips
Pingree
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Pressley
Price (NC)
Quigley
Raskin
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reschenthaler
Rice (NY)
Rice (SC)
Richmond
Riggleman
Roby
Rodgers (WA)
Roe, David P.
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rooney (FL)
Rose (NY)
Rose, John W.
Rouda
Rouzer
Roy
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Shalala
Sherman
Sherrill
Shimkus
Simpson
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Soto
Spanberger
Spano
Speier
Stanton
Stauber
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Stivers
Suozzi
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Taylor
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Timmons
Tipton
Titus
Tlaib
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres Small (NM)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Upton
Van Drew
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walorski
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Welch
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Wright
Yarmuth
Yoho
Young
Zeldin

NOES--9

Amash
Biggs
Brooks (AL)
Budd
Davidson (OH)
Gosar
Mooney (WV)
Sensenbrenner
Walker

NOT VOTING--23

Allred
Cardenas
Clyburn
Connolly
Dingell
Fletcher
Foster
Gaetz
Huffman
Johnson (LA)
Jones
Kennedy
LaMalfa
Lawson (FL)
Lucas
Marchant
Meuser
Rutherford
Steube
Watkins
Watson Coleman
Wenstrup
Wilson (FL)

{time} 1134

So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated for:
Mrs. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted
``yea'' on rollcall No. 75.

Personal Explanation

Mr. ALLRED. Mr. Speaker, as I am back home in Dallas, Texas, on
paternity leave with my family, I submit the following vote
explanation.
Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 72,
``yea'' on rollcall No. 73, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 74, and ``yea'' on
rollcall No. 75.

[[Page H1482]]

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, on February 8, 2019, I missed two recorded
votes. Had I been present, on rollcall No. 74, I would have voted no,
and on rollcall No. 75, I would have voted yes.

____________________