e-News 4/15/16

• The Year’s First Appropriations Bill Funds Veterans Services
• My Work in Committee: Pacific Command
• “Carter Evasive on South China Sea while China Targets Philippines”
• Russia Buzzes U.S. Warship, Only Gets Strongly Worded Letter
• Congress Fights Zika Virus Threat
• Wayne Valley, Mendham Students Win Congressional Art Competition
• Military Academy Night Scheduled
• Recommended Reading: “Back to the Classroom”
• Salute: 20^th Anniversary Dierdre’s House, The Center for Morris County’s Child Victims

The Year’s First Appropriations Bill Funds Veterans Services

The House Appropriations Committee was at work this week on behalf of the nation’s veterans and active military members and their families.  The Committee passed the Veterans Affairs and Military Construction Appropriations bill for the fiscal year that begins October 1. The legislation fully funds veterans’ benefits and programs and also contains funding to house, train, and equip military personnel, provide housing and services to our troops’ families, and help maintain military base infrastructure.

In total, the annual measure provides $81.6 billion in discretionary funding – $1.8 billion above current levels. Within this total, funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is increased by 3 percent over the fiscal year 2016 level – including additional funding to address management problems and health care shortages, and to increase the speed, efficiency, and effectiveness of its services to veterans.

I was particularly pleased that the Committee approved language I proposed directing the Secretary of the VA to ensure that all VA medical facilities have equipment and the capabilities to provide the specific health care need of female veterans.

I also have to commend the Committee for its oversight of the joint Department of Defense-VA effort to establish a uniform or interoperable electronic medical record that members of our Armed Forces can take with them when they transition into the VA health care system. While the DOD is moving forward with a modernized system, the VA’s efforts lag far behind and the Appropriations Committee is correct to push the VA on the timing, capabilities and the cost of their electronic record system.

Of course, the VA itself is badly in need of modernization and greater accountability.  This bill continues our committee’s strong focus on transforming the VA into an organization truly worthy of the veterans it is charged to serve.  Much more work needs to be done to fix the widespread problems at the VA.  Reforming the agency from an outdated government bureaucracy to a state-of-the-art model of service and responsiveness should be everyone’s goal. This is an issue that deserves Congress’ continued attention in 2016.

Read the entire report here.

Read the bill text here.

My Work in Committee: Pacific Command

My Defense Appropriations Committee took testimony yesterday from the Commander of our Joint Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, and our U.S. Forces and U.N. Commander in Korea, General Curtis Scaparotti.  I cannot report on the Committee’s findings because the hearing was classified but I can say we talked a great deal about how to protect the American people and our partners and allies in the region from growing threats from North Korea and China.

“Carter Evasive on South China Sea while China Targets Philippines”

Read Sydney Freedberg’s story on the Breaking Defense blog here.

Russia Buzzes U.S. Warship Repeatedly, Only Gets Strongly Worded Letter

Two Russian warplanes twice flew simulated attack runs near a U.S. guided missile destroyer in the Baltic Sea this week in what one U.S. military official described as one of the most aggressive interactions in recent memory.  The repeated passes by the Sukhoi SU-24 warplanes were so close they created wake in the water.

In response, Secretary of State Kerry told the Miami Herald, “We condemn this kind of behavior. It is reckless. It is provocative. It is dangerous. And under the rules of engagement that could have been a shoot-down.”

Instead, however, the Obama Administration settled for a “protest” through “established military channels.

Watch video of the provocative Russian action here.

Congress Fights Zika Virus Threat

Congress continues its work to protect Americans from the Zika virus.

This week, the House passed S. 2512, bipartisan legislation to incentivize the development, testing, and distribution of a vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus. Soon to be law, this bill will make it easier to develop vaccines and treatments for patients, especially women and children.

Learn more about S. 2512 here.

Of course, we will continue to monitor the government’s response, and work to protect the American people. In the meantime, we should commend all of our public health officials who are working to combat this threat.

Last week, the Obama administration agreed to redirect existing funds to assure the quickest response to the outbreak.

Wayne Valley, Mendham Students Win Congressional Art Competition

After much anticipation, we wrapped up the 16^th Annual 11^thCongressional District Art Competition this week.

• Jane Lee of Wayne Valley High School won first place with her acrylic painting entitled “Chrome Still-Life;” 
• Emma Jang of Mendham High School placed second with her piece titled “Tenacity;” 
• Tyler Harker of West Morris Mendham High School placed third with his piece entitled “Opal;”
• Leonela Moyoli of Boonton High School earned an honorable mention for her piece titled “Tyran Moore;”
• Jasmine Shaw of Livingston High School earned an honorable mention for her piece titled “There’s No Place like Homeland;”
• Connor Sokol of Sparta High School earned an honorable mention for his piece titled “Freedom’s flight;”
• Camila Rosario of Wayne Valley High School earned an honorable mention for her piece titled “Stressed Out.”

Each year, the Congressional Arts Competition reminds me of the marvelous artistic talent of high school students in every corner of my Congressional District.  I was extremely impressed by all of the 67 entries submitted by students from twenty-five different schools and offer my congratulations to Jane Lee of Wayne on her first place work.

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.  Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.  The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. 

The 2016 Congressional Art Competition was completed on Monday April 11 at The Morris Museum.   Independent judges determined the winners, as well as those art works that received honorable mention. 

Military Academy Night Scheduled

Attention high school students interested in a military career: I will be hosting our sixteenth annual Military Academy Night on Monday, May 2, 2016 at 7 pm at West Essex Regional High School, 65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, NJ, 07006.  The event gives interested students, parents, and guidance counselors the opportunity to meet with representatives from the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD), the U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY), the U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado), the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London, CT), and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY).  All are welcome!

Recommended Reading: Check out my Op-Ed in the New Jersey Tomato Press, “Back to the Classroom” here.

Salute:  Thank you to Dierdre’s House, the Center for Morris County’s Child Victims, which this week marked 20 years of invaluable service to our community.