Objection to H.R.3521, Vets Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization
Senator Sanders objected to Senator Vitter's request on the basis that the bill and many other significant provisions are included in S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014.
The unofficial transcript of the exchange is below.
{09:59:08} (MR. VITTER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE SECOND NATIONAL AND LOUISIANA ISSUE I WANT TO DISCUSS HAS TO DO
WITH VETERANS AND VETERANS HEALTH CARE WHICH WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT ON THE SENATE FLOOR FOR SOME TIME NOW. SPECIFICALLY, THE
NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH 27 FULLY APPROVED, FULLY AUTHORIZED
V.A. COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICS THAT HAVE BEEN STALLED BECAUSE OF
BUREAUCRATIC PROBLEMS. NOW THESE -- AGAIN, THESE CLINICS ARE
AROUND THE COUNTRY. TWO ARE IN LOUISIANA, ONE IN LAFAYETTE, ONE
IN LAKE CHARLES. THESE CLINICS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE V.A.,
HAVE BEEN IN THEIR PLAN FOR SOME TIME. THEY ARE FULLY
AUTHORIZED. WE THOUGHT THEY WERE FULLY PAID FOR UNTIL, FIRST,
THE V.A. MADE SOME BUREAUCRATIC MISTAKES TO DELAY THE LAKE
CHARLES AND LAFAYETTE CLINICS IN PARTICULAR, AND THEN OUT OF
THE BLUE THE C.B.O. CHANGED WAIT THEY SCORE ALL OF THESE
CLINICS AND ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND CREATED ANOTHER
BUREAUCRATIC HURDLE. MR. PRESIDENT, AGAIN THE GOOD NEWS IS WE
CAME TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN WAY AND HAVE A SOLUTION TO THOSE
PURELY BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES SO THAT ALL OF THESE CLINICS CAN
MOVE FORWARD EXPEDITIOUSLY.
BILL THAT WOULD DO THAT, THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THESE
BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES. THEY PASSED IT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR BY
A WHOPPING BIPARTISAN MARGIN. AND SO I COME TO THE FLOOR, MR.
PRESIDENT, URGING ALL OF US TO DO THE SAME. SPECIFICALLY, I
HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE BILL THAT ALSO MAKES IT EVEN MORE
FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE BY HAVING A PAY-FOR FOR ANY CONCEIVABLE
COST TO THIS BILL, AND THAT IS WHAT MY AMENDMENT WOULD DO. NOW,
THIS V.A. CLINIC LEGISLATION WAS IN THE SANDERS VETERANS BILL
LAST WEEK, AND IT WAS IN THE BURR ALTERNATIVE. IT WAS IN BOTH
THE DEMOCRATIC AND THE REPUBLICAN VETERANS PACKAGES. NEITHER OF
THOSE PACKAGES PASSED. THE SANDERS BILL WAS DEFEATED ON A
BUDGET POINT OF ORDER, WHICH I SUPPORTED, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK
IT'S PROPERLY PAID FOR AND IS SUSTAINABLE BOTH IN TERMS OF OUR
BUDGET AND, EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR VETERANS, HOW THE VETERAN
SYSTEM WORKS AND HANDLES ITS CURRENT PATIENT LOAD. THE BURR
BILL NEVER EVEN GOT A VOTE. WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT THOSE
LARGER PACKAGES. THOSE ARE REAL SUBSTANTIAL DISAGREEMENTS. BUT
IN THE MIDST OF THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD HOPE WE CAN AGREE
TO WHAT WE CAN AGREE ON. AND THESE V. CLINICS CERTAINLY -- AND
THESE V.A. CLINICS CERTAINLY FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY. WE HAVE
CLEARED ALL OBJECTIONS TO THIS V.A. CLINIC PIECE SPECIFICALLY.
WE HAVE ADDRESSED ALL ISSUES HAVING TO DO WITH THESE V.A.
CLINICS, IN PART THROUGH MY AMENDMENT AT THE DESK. THE ONLY
POSSIBLE OBJECTION I KNOW OF IS THE FACT THAT A LARGER PACKAGE
IS NOT PASSIBLE. WELL, I UNDERSTAND THEIR BIG ARGUMENTS ABOUT
THAT LARGER PACKAGE. THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE DIFFERENCES OF
OPINION. I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF US
AGREEING TO WHAT WE CAN AGREE ON AND MOVE FORWARD WITH AN
IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE FOR VETERANS HEALTH CARE, WHICH
ARE THESE 27 COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICS AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND IN
THAT SPIRIT, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD A ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
AGREEMENT WHEREBY WE WOULD TAKE UP THE HOUSE-PASSED BILL.
AGAIN, THIS HOUSE-PASSED BILL WAS ACTUALLY ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, PASSED WITH A WHOPPING BIPARTISAN MAJORITY. WE WOULD
ADOPT MY AMENDMENT AT THE DESK, WHICH ADDRESSES SOME FISCAL
CONCERNS WITH THE BILL, AND WE WOULD PASS IT THROUGH THE
PROCESS. THIS WOULD BE OUR COMING TOGETHER, AGREEING WHAT WE
CAN AGREE ON. THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO DO AS
WE WORK ON ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF HEALTH CARE AND VETERANS
BENEFITS COVERED BY BOTH THE BURR AND THE SANDERS BILLS DEBATED
LAST WEEK. AND SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THE SENATE PROCEED TO THE IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3521,
WHICH WAS RECEIVED FROM THE HOUSE; THAT MY AMENDMENT, WHICH IS
AT THE DESK, BE AGREED TO; THAT THE BILL AS AMENDED BE READ A
THIRD TIME AND PASSED AND THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID UPON
THE TABLE.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
MR. SANDERS: MR. PRESIDENT, RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT --
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
MR. SANDERS: MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK VERY MUCH MY COLLEAGUE FROM
LOUISIANA BRINGING FORTH THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
SENATOR MARY LANDRIEU FROM LOUISIANA HAS ALSO RAISED THIS
ISSUE, AS HAVE MANY COLLEAGUES. AND MY FRIEND FROM LOUISIANA IS
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND THIS IS AN
ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE PASSED. BUT I WOULD SAY TO MY FRIEND FROM
LOUISIANA THAT LAST WEEK WE BROUGHT FORTH THE MOST
COMPREHENSIVE VETERANS LEGISLATION IN THE MODERN HISTORY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THAT LEGISLATION DEALT WITH MANY,
MANY ISSUES RAISED BY VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS WHO REPRESENT
MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY. LET ME VERY BRIEFLY, MR. PRESIDENT --
VERY BRIEFLY -- TOUCH ON SOME OF THOSE ISSUES INCLUDED IN THIS
COMPREHENSIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT LACKED THREE VOTES. WE
GOT 56 VOTES. ONE SENATOR WAS ABSENT, WOULD HAVE VOTED. WE NEED
THREE VOTES TO PASS THIS. THIS WOULD HAVE ADDRESSED SOME OF THE
SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE CLAIMS BACKLOG. IT WOULD HAVE ADDRESSED
THE CRISIS OF ADVANCED APPROPRIATIONS TO MAKE SURE IF THERE IS
EVER AGAIN ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, NO VETERAN -- DISABLED
VETERAN, NO VETERAN ON A PENSION WOULD NOT GET THEIR CHECK.
THIS LEGISLATION INCLUDED AN ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT PROVISION
EXPANDING THE CAREGIVERS' PROGRAM SO THAT WIVES AND SISTERS AND
BROTHERS TAKING CARE OF DISABLED VETS FINALLY GET THE ATTENTION
THEY DESERVE. THAT LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE ADDRESSED A TERRIBLE
PROBLEM FACING SOME 2,300 FAMILIES TODAY WHERE MEN AND WOMEN
WERE INJURED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, NO LONGER CAN HAVE
BABIES, AND THEY WANT HELP THROUGH IN VITRO FERTILIZATION OR
OTHER PROCESSES, OR ADOPTION, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FAMILIES. THIS
ADDRESSED THE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MANY OF OUR YOUNG MEN
AND WOMEN ARE NOT GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY NEED BECAUSE
STATES ARE NOT ALLOWING THEM TO GET IN-STATE TUITION, AND IT
ADDRESSED MANY, MANY OTHER CRISIS, WHICH IS WHY THAT
LEGISLATION HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS, THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, THE VIETNAM
VETERANS OF AMERICA, THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF
AMERICA, AND IN FACT VIRTUALLY EVERY VETERANS ORGANIZATION IN
THE COUNTRY. SO LET ME SAY TO THIS MY FRIEND FROM LOUISIANA,
AND I SAY THIS SINCERELY: WHAT I WILL NOT DO IS DISMEMBER THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. WHAT I WILL DO IS WORK WITH YOU AND WORK WITH
OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS COMPREHENSIVE VETERANS
LEGISLATION SO THAT WE CAN BRING FORTH TO THE FLOOR A BILL THAT
REFLECTS THE NEEDS OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF VETERANS WHO ARE
HURTING TODAY. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUE
FROM LOUISIANA ON A COMPREHENSIVE BILL, BUT AT THIS POINT I
OBJECT TO HIS PROPOSAL.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD.
MR. VITTER: MR. PRESIDENT, RECLAIMING THE FLOOR AND MY TIME --
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
MR. VITTER: I FIND THAT VERY REGRETTABLE. OF COURSE I'LL
CONTINUE TOWORK WITH THE SENATOR FROM VERMONT. OF COURSE I WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT LARGER PACKAGE, WHICH I HAVE BEEN
ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN FOR SOMETIME. AND I'LL CONTINUE THAT. BUT
BASICALLY THE SENATOR FROM VERMONT IS HOLDING A VERY TINY PIECE
OF IT HOSTAGE, A TINY PIECE THAT WILL HAVE NO IMPACT, WHETHER
IT IS IN OR OUT IN TERMS OF PASSAGE OF THAT BROADER BILL. WHAT
IS HAPPENING IS WE HAVE A PIECE THAT, ON ITS SUBSTANCE, ON THE
SUBSTANCE OF THE CLINICS THEMSELVES, NO ONE OBJECTS TO, A PIECE
THAT PASSED THE HOUSE BY A HUGE, OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN
MAJORITY. AND YET IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS HERE TODAY OR PERHAPS
ANYTIME SOON BECAUSE IT'S HELD HOSTAGE OVER LARGER FIGHTS. I'LL
CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT BROADER VETERANS PIECE. I SUPPORT A
BROADER VETERANS BILL, IF IT'S STYLED THE RIGHT WAY AND IF IT'S
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. I SUPPORT THE BURR ALTERNATIVE. I'LL
CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR COMMON GROUND BETWEEN THAT BURR
ALTERNATIVE AND THE SANDERS BILL. BUT WHETHER THIS CLINIC PIECE
IS IN OR OUT OF THAT DISCUSSION WILL HAVE ZERO IMPACT ON
PASSING THAT PIECE. I HONESTLY THINK IT WILL HAVE ZERO IMPACT.
SO I JUST FIND IT REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE CAN'T GET THIS
DONE IN THE MEANTIME, THAT WHAT MY COLLEAGUE CONSIDERS THE
PERFECT IS NOW THE ENEMY OF THE VERY GOOD AND WE CAN'T SERVE
VETERANS BY COMING TOGETHER ON WHAT WE DO AGREE ON AND ACTING
IN THE MEANTIME. WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD URGE MY
DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE FROM VERMONT TO RECONSIDER OVER TIME,
AS WE WORK ON THIS LARGER VETERANS BILL, BECAUSE WE COULD PASS
THIS TODAY. THE HOUSE WOULD PASS THE SLIGHTLY MODIFIED VERSION
IMMEDIATELY, AND WE WOULD BE MOVING ON WITH 27 COMMUNITY-BASED
CLINICS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHICH VETERANS IN ALL OF THOSE
COMMUNITIES DESPERATELY NEED. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I YIELD
THE FLOOR. OH, EXCUSE ME, MR. PRESIDENT. IF I COULD JUST BE
RECOGNIZED FOR 30 ADDITIONAL SECONDS, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER
INTO THE RECORD AND ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO DO SO A COLLOQUY,
WRITTEN COLLOQUY BETWEEN MYSELF AND SENATOR INHOFE REGARDING
THESE CLINICS. I THANK SENATOR INHOFE FOR HIS ACTIVE
COOPERATION IN MOVING THESE CLINICS FORWARD, AND I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SUBMIT THIS WRITTEN COLLOQUY FOR THE
RECORD.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. VITTER: WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR. MR.
SANDERS: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
MR. SANDERS: MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME HE ITERATE MY HOPE -- LET ME
REITERATE MY HOPE THAT THE SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA WILL IN FACT
WORK WITH US. IT IS MY INTENTION TO SEE THAT THIS BILL GET TO
THE FLOOR AGAIN BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY. I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO DEFEND
THIS COUNTRY TO ADDRESS THEIR SERIOUS NEEDS. THE ISSUE OF THESE
27 MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE ONE OF THOSE NEEDS, BUT THERE ARE
MANY, MANY MORE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE SENATOR
FROM LOUISIANA, AND OTHER SENATORS, TO DO WHAT THE VETERANS
COMMUNITIES WANT US TO DO AND TO GO FORWARD ON WHAT WILL BE THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS
OF OUR VETERANS PASSED IN SEVERAL DECADES. WITH THAT, MR.
PRESIDENT, I WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
