Mark Takano: “I commend General Bergman for the section of the VET-TEC bill which includes addressing this issue related to burials…”

“I commend General Bergman for the section of the VET-TEC bill which includes addressing this issue related to burials and the cost that the veteran's family has to bear, but I find it peculiar that the majority would take pains to include this legislation, which I have no quarrel with and support, but could not deal with and chose not to deal with the expiring authorities to deal with our homeless veterans. Americans care deeply about the homeless veterans in our country and are offended that we would have anybody who wore the uniform of the United States be homeless. There are elements of this bill that came up in markup. They brought the bill to the floor, the VET-TEC bill, which includes many elements, but they specifically chose to leave out addressing the expiring authorities that we have used to bring down homelessness by 11 percent. I am afraid we are going to lose momentum. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”