Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, the bulk of the request of the increase for the General Administration was intended for the establishment of the Veterans Experience Office. Up until now, the Veterans Experience Office's activities have been funded through the Office of Enterprise Integration. However, the FY 2017 budget proposes to make the Veterans Experience Office a standalone office within the General Administration and requests $72.6 million in funding and 204 full-time equivalents via direct budget authority.

While we all support the Secretary's efforts to improve the way the VA interacts with the veterans, we had doubts about the wisdom of establishing a large, new office with regional staffing at this late date in the administration. It was decided not to include this funding. However, there is nothing in the bill that prevents the Secretary from continuing to fund the office in the way that he did in the previous fiscal year.

Conversely, the amendment before us will prevent this office from being funded, period. I believe that the amendment is a bridge too far. While I don't support making the Veterans Experience Office a free- standing office, I also don't support taking the Secretary's flexibility away either. I believe that the bill is the right approach. I urge Members to oppose the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Will the gentleman yield?

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I have the deepest respect for the gentleman from Pennsylvania and for the gentleman who is offering the amendment, but I think that we may be just going a little bit too far here.

Mr. Chair, this amendment will restrict the ability of the VA and the departments and related agencies funded in this act to use incentives to get experienced, talented, and capable individuals to take on difficult-to-fill positions. In other departments, they call these hardship posts. These are the jobs no one wants to do but are vital to the function of government.

I think we can all agree that there are times when we need to provide incentives to those individuals whom we are asking to fill difficult jobs. At times, we need to take action to make a job more appealing, and sometimes we need to provide incentives to compete with the salaries that are typically paid outside of the Federal Government for some of the positions.

I am concerned that this amendment will decrease the availability and quality of candidates possessing the competencies that are required for filling the hard-to-fill posts. We would not run a Fortune 500 company this way. Why are we limiting the ability of the U.S. Government to recruit and hire the best and the brightest?

I respectfully urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, this is just another attack on organized labor and working people. The conduct that the gentleman wishes to prohibit is consistent with the National Labor Relations Act, and it is consistent with the traditions of this country. It is freedom of speech, and I think it ought to be allowed.

I certainly object to this. I think that the working people ought to have an opportunity to express themselves and utilize fully the First Amendment, even in our VA facilities. I couldn't imagine that people who support the Constitution would want to muzzle working people and limit their ability to seek associations with like-minded people.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair,

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, again, this is another nasty rider. This is a rider that is totally unnecessary and inappropriate on this bill. It violates the Constitution. It certainly limits the rights of people in veterans facilities to be able to have freedom of speech and freedom of association. It is a bad proposition. I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I move to strike the last word.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I am very disappointed that, instead of seeking to pass the most bipartisan bill possible, my colleagues would prefer to weigh down the bill that funds veterans and military construction with a divisive rider.

PLAs can be an essential tool to allow large projects to be completed on time and on budget. They are a benefit to both employers and employees. A project labor agreement provides a single collective bargaining unit, which allows for easier management of a project. They provide a reliable and uninterrupted supply of workers. They provide uniform wages, uniform benefits, overtime pay. A PLA sets the terms and conditions of employment for all workers onsite, including the work conditions and the rules. In addition, a PLA prohibits strikes and work stoppages.

It is insulting that some would seek to prevent the use of PLAs on this bill when it is one of the best tools available to guarantee that veterans are hired as skilled construction workers. The use of a PLA does not prevent nonunion small businesses from participating. They have to agree to the terms and to sign on to the PLA. In addition, the PLA does not make the project union only.

Simply put, project labor agreements help both the government and the private sector increase the efficiency and the quality of its project by promoting a business model that employs a highly skilled workforce. Such a workforce ensures that construction projects are built correctly the first time, on time and, as a result, on budget.

I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

I would note that this House has repeatedly refused to adopt similar amendments on this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I just want to let my voice be heard to congratulate the gentlewoman on her amendment. It has been adopted previously by this House. I think it is a great amendment. We support our homeless veterans. I congratulate the gentlewoman for offering the amendment.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney).

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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