I suspect on this issue you are right, there should be a nonpartisan approach.

The situation has become so absurd that the Pentagon is unable to even account for how it spends its money.

Does it concern you that we have seen a massive shift in income and wealth inequality in this country so that we have the highest proportion of inequality in the world?

the Federal minimum wage today of $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage

I look forward to working with you this Congress to better the lives of veterans and their families.

the CBO just gave three recommendations in terms of the type of data that would be helpful to the committee.

VA's testimony provided for this hearing is unacceptable and I have begun examining measures that would require VA to be much more open with the American people moving forward.

I share that concern. And I have heard directly from industry that, given the significant drawdown in R&D, that they are struggling to survive in many fields.

Last Congress this committee worked hard to create the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which expands opportunities for veterans to seek private care if the VA cannot provide the care they need when they need it.

I am honored to again represent my district's veterans on this subcommittee and veterans around the country as well.

I strongly support a robust reauthorization, long-term, of our transportation needs.

We need to invest in transit and we have a game plan to do that.

It needs to be long-term. As has been pointed out, our States and counties cannot plan without the long-term commitments from the Federal Government as their partner.

It is critically important that our local governments have the ability to keep their people safe.

I also want to emphasize the need for giving our local governments flexibility.

The summary of hearing after hearing on data issues is the data is not valid and not reliable.

They are tired of driving 200, 300 miles for care that they could get right down the road at their local hospital.

What I hope in the long term is, instead of worrying about necessarily what the studies say and what experts in Washington, D.C., say or some big university, some big hospital, what I am worried about is what my constituents say.