Veterans Compensation COLA, Locating Unclaimed Veterans, PROVIDE Act

Feel like I should say something to the audience, since it's so quiet. Welcome to the Committee on Disability Assistance. Very stoic faces. You guys don't want me talking to you? Manon, how are you? Is it Miss Manon? Okay. Is the secretary in the room? He's hard to miss. There he is. Man, I'm sorry. How you doing? Good to see you, sir. Good to see you.

Good to see you.

Oh, you're not getting that in here. You earned the title. I'm gonna give it to you. Thanks for joining us today. We're gonna wait for um, mister to show up. He he is he in band?

I just said a title song.

Okay. Today we are considering three bills which we'll be, I will be asking unanimous consent to consider on block. All of these bills were considered in a legislative hearing in the subcommittee. In accordance with committee rules, the subcommittee has contacted the Congressional Budget Office seeking informal preliminary cost estimates each of the bills being considered today. These preliminary scores are only a range of potential costs. None of these bills included in the en bloc today include the offsets that would be necessary to move these bills forward through the full committee. Finding offsets ensures that we keep our financial house in order. We have an incredible privilege and considera- we have the incredible privilege and consideration uh with the uh on these reforms that will help the VA better serve veterans their families and the survivors for their the rest of their lives, and after. after service. Offsets are a central part of this process and I look forward to working with my colleagues on this committee committee uh moving forward. If we cannot find an offset unfortunately for a bill we will not be able to to consider it at the full committee mark-up. I look forward to working with my dear friend, Mister McGarvey, and members of the subcommittee to find reasonable offsets for these pieces of legislation I now recognize the distinguished member um Mister McGarvey.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, I'll save my comments for the on-blocker, you're back.

Thank you, sir. And now I ask unanimous consent to consider to en-block the following bills that uh do not have amendments. H R eighty-five fifty-two, the Veterans Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act of twenty twenty-six, H R nine zero zero six, locating our unclaimed Veterans Act and H R six five eight eight, the Provide Act. Hearing no objections to order, the clerk shall report the bills.

On block number one, H R

Bills are circulated in advance pursuant to committee rules. I ask that the readings of the bills be dispensed with and the bills be open to amendment at any point. Without objection so ordered, I recognize myself for a moment to say these bills would offs- uh these bills are not yet offset, but I look forward to working with my colleagues again. Um does any member wish to speak on any of the bills included in the en bloc?

I'll say something real quick.

Mr. Mcgarvey?

Mr. Chairman, I support the three bills in the en bloc. We have HR eight five five two, which is a common sense bipartisan cost of living adjustment for our veterans and their families. HR nine zero zero six works towards better systems and inter-agency cooperation to identify unclaimed remains and give these veterans proper honors. This is a step in the right direction to better serve those who served us. And last but not least, we have H R six five eight eight, the provide act offered by our colleague, Representative Jimmy Jimmy Panetta. This bill seeks to help veterans experiencing hardships after natural disasters by offering them some wiggle room with their disability claims so they can receive faster financial assistance to rebuild their lives. We made a promise to give our veterans and survivors the best care we can, in life, in hardship, and death. I think that's what we are moving in that direction with today, and I yield back.

Thank you, sir. Do any members wish to offer amendments to any of these bills? Mr. Schill, if you recognize her.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanna, uh, reiterate the fact that every one of these that has a cost, our veterans alone, some set of our veterans alone will pay for it. Our three hundred and thirty million Americans do not know that. Uh, they think that is, it is tax uh, broadly tax-based. It is not. Some set uh, some set subset of our veterans will pay for every one of these bills, and I yield back.

Thank you, Mr. Self. Anyone else wish to speak on the on-block package? Do any members have amendments? Hearing none, I recognize our making of a motion.

Mr. Chairman, I move that on-block number one consisting of H R eight five five two, H R nine zero zero six and H R six five eight eight be forwarded favorably to the full committee.

There is a there is a motion to favorably forward the bills included in the on-block to the full committee. All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye. All those opposed say no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and the bill and the bills H R eighty-five fifty-two, H R nine, zero zero six and H R six five eight eight are favorably forward to the full committee. I ask an a- I ask an unanimous consent that the committee staff be authorized to make technical clerical and conforming changes to the bills favorably forward today hearing no objections so ordered and I thank the members for their attendance today and the subcommittee mark-up is adjourned.