Mark Takano: “I thank the ranking member for his assistance and partnership in getting COMPACT to the finish line. I certainly thank…”

“I thank the ranking member for his assistance and partnership in getting COMPACT to the finish line. I certainly thank Chairman Smith for his contribution. I agree with the chairman that the great outdoors--the tremendous resources that we have in our country of our national parks--should be made more available and accessible to our veterans who are suffering the unseen wounds of war. So I thank the gentleman so much for his contribution. Madam Speaker, I want to urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 8247. I want to thank the staff; my own staff director, Ray Kelley; and the tremendous expertise that we brought on and just the tremendous focus that they were able to achieve during the past 18 months. This is, indeed, a huge milestone today, to be standing here and to see H.R. 8247 be passed before the House today. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8247, and I yield back the balance of my time.”