2:16:42 to 2:17:03( Edit History Discussion )

Baron Hill: sending care packages to our troops in service, in the theaters of battle. and we clearly think this is a consistent use, allowable use under the national service act. we welcome the amendment and support it. mr. hill: i thank the chairman and the ranking member for this bipartisan support.

2:17:04 to 2:17:25( Edit History Discussion )

Baron Hill: this is a bipartisan bill and amendment. i'm sure will gain a lot of democrat and republican votes. this is the right thing to do. this is how democracy is supposed to work. we are supposed to listen to our constituents who have good ideas and come here to washington to pass good legislation. i'm happy that we had this bipartisan support. i yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman yields back. all ti has expired.

2:17:48 to 2:18:09( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Teague: house report 111-39. ntleman from new mexico rise? mr. teague: mr. chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 10 printed in house report 1-39 offered by mr. teague of new mexico. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 250, the gentleman from new mexico, mr. teague, and a member opposed, will each control five minutes.

2:18:10 to 2:18:31( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Teague: the chair recognizes the gentleman from new mexico. mr. teague: mr. chairman, i rise today to offer an important amendment to an important piece of legislation, the give act. my amendment, which i'm offering together with my friend, congressman klein of florida establishes that a veterans' volunteer corps would engage in activities that are important to veterans in my

2:18:53 to 2:19:13( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Teague: disabled and unemployed veterans with transportation needs. this amendment is especially important for veterans in rural areas like the one i represent. many veterans in my district have to travel four hours or more to reach a veterans hospital for doctors' appointments. for folks who would require

2:19:37 to 2:19:46( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Teague: to knowledgeable volunteers for veterans applying for their benefits can be a guiding light through the maze of the

2:20:30 to 2:20:51( Edit History Discussion )

Todd Russell Platts: i ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition to the amendment although i'm not opposed. the chair: without objection. mr. platts: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. platts: thank you, mr. chairman. agn, just rise in support of the amendment. i want to commend the gentleman from both new mexico and florida for offering this amendment, a great addition to the bill.

2:20:56 to 2:21:16( Edit History Discussion )

George Miller: our nation, past and present, and that we recognize the sacrifices they've made in defense of our nation along with their families and that we now kind of keep our commitment as a nation to them. so i urge a yes vote and yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from new mexico. mr. teague: i yield to chairman miller 30 seconds. mr. miller: i thank the gentleman for yielding and i

2:21:17 to 2:21:39( Edit History Discussion )

George Miller: want to thank him for bringing this to the committee and offering this amendment. all of us in our congressional offices know how thin the support services for the veterans as they seek out occupational opportunities, therapy opportunities, all of the needs that our returning veterans have. and the gentleman is making a great contribution to this legislation, especially since this is the first time that we have fully integrated veterans

2:21:51 to 2:22:12( Edit History Discussion )

Ron Klein: our veterans are able to proceed with all of their when they return home. i thank the gentleman for offering the amendment. i urge passage of the the chair: the gentleman from new mexico. mr. teague: yes, mr. chairman. i yield the remaining time to the co-sponsor of this

2:22:13 to 2:22:34( Edit History Discussion )

Ron Klein: amendment, congressman klein. the chair: the gentleman from florida is recognized for the balance of the time. mr. klein: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i thk the gentleman. mr. chairman and members, i rise in strong support of this amendment and the underlying bill. congressman teague and i introduced this amendment in order to clarify the services that can be formed by veterans,

2:22:56 to 2:23:16( Edit History Discussion )

Ron Klein: while the united states department of veterans' affairs and military staff work hard to ensure that every veteran gets full advantage of the benefits they have earned, some veteran still have difficulty navigating the system and coming up with all the necessary documents. by allowing trained veteran corps volunteer to guide them through this process, we can

2:23:39 to 2:24:00( Edit History Discussion )

Ron Klein: yet 54,000 are still waiting for confirmation that the v.a. even received their claims. the average wait for disability claim is more than six months. this amendment could help these veterans access the services they need. i can think of few priorities greater or more urgent than providing basic services such as these to our brave men and

2:24:16 to 2:24:35( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: americans to dedicate their time to a cause that is bigger than themselves through volunteerism and community service. i urge adoption of this amendment and a yes vote on the underlying legislation for the our country as a whole. i yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman yields back. all time has expired. the question is the approval of

2:24:36 to 2:24:57( Edit History Discussion )

Dina Titus: the amendment by the gentleman from new mexico and the gentleman from florida. all in favor signify by saying aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. the amendment is approved. it is now in order to consider amendment number 11 printed in house report 111-39. for what purpose does the

2:24:58 to 2:25:18( Edit History Discussion )

Dina Titus: gentlewoman from nevada rise? ms. titus: mr. chairman, i have the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 11 printed in house report 111-39 offered by ms. titus of nevada. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 250, the gentlewoman from nevada, ms. titus, and a member opposed, will each

2:25:40 to 2:26:00( Edit History Discussion )

Dina Titus: disaster has left people homeless, jobless and helpless. but we've also felt as we witnessed our fellow citizens rise to the occasion with perseverance and selflessness to assist those in need, a real hope for the future. many wonderful americans, including members of this body, have reached into their hearts

2:26:23 to 2:26:44( Edit History Discussion )

Dina Titus: composed of alumni of americorps and senior corps programs. these wonderful volunteers can be identified and called upon in time of natural disasters and emergencies to start the relief and rebuilding process posthaste. the corps members will not only have the valuable training and experience from their year of service, but they will also

2:27:07 to 2:27:27( Edit History Discussion )

Dina Titus: over 2,000 americorps members have served in 15 different programs. they've provided more than 2.5 million hours of service and have earned over 4.7 million dollars in education credits. in 2007, americorps programs contributed over 25,000 hours of service to nevada and

2:27:49 to 2:28:01( Edit History Discussion )

Dina Titus: reserve corps we will create an organized deployment system for those citizens who are ready to serve and are trained to do so. we will also show volunteers and anyone who is considering a

2:28:45 to 2:29:06( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: given a hard time for not voting, was always volunteering in record numbers. we did believe in the idea of civic duty and community service that we had learned from our grandparents in the greatest generation. and we saw through the original americorps programs and others what a great idea service was, not only was it a chance to help out tse struggling in

2:29:30 to 2:29:51( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: i'veorked in west africa, in darfur, in the communities with at-risk kids back here at home. and always enjoyed and celebrated that time. there are few things that i learned from that time in the nonprofit sector that i believe have gone into this reserve corps amenent. first and foremost is the idea that once you get someone to

2:30:16 to 2:30:37( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: senior citizens who want to volunteer, high school students. and we need to be celebrating and fostering that spirit of service. and finally, we need to respect and understand the level of professionalism in our nonprofit and volunteer sector. people learn skills here that are incredibly valuable to our community. and this reserve corps is based on the idea that once we have made that investment in giving

2:30:59 to 2:31:05( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: lifetime. i believe this bill reaches in the best tradition of service and the best of our sense of

2:31:48 to 2:32:09( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman yields back. the gentlelady from nevada. ms. titus: mr. chairman, i yield time. the chair: the gentlelady yields back. all time has expired. the question is on approval of the amendment. those in favor say aye. ose opposed, no. the ayes have it. the amendment is approved. ms. titus: on that, mr.

2:32:32 to 2:32:53( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: printed in house report 111-39 on which further proceedings were postponed in the following order -- amendment number 2 by ms. pingree, amendment number 4 by mr. loebsack, amendment number 5 by mr. roe, amendment number 6 by ms. kilroy, amendment number 8 by ms.