Veterans' Access to Child Care Act

Floor Speech

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Mr. TAKANO. Will the gentleman yield?

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Mr. TAKANO. The order of the amendments got reversed.

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Mr. TAKANO. That is correct.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the motion to recommit.
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Mr. TAKANO. Parliamentary Inquiry

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