All Quotes

I think this is like a swamp filled with gators. Every time you try to drain it, you have one more gator biting someplace that you do not like.

I think it is important that we help and then employ our veterans that need it the most.

Helping these men and women find opportunities in which they can use their military skills and training as they transition into a civilian life is something the VA has been working on.

To really help put a model in place, a new operating model to transform the VA from one that takes the best of the private sector and the best of what we do.

I really have a question as to whether or not they ought to be doing the construction, because I did not see where they brought a heck of a lot of expertise to the projects that they are doing.

I think when we spoke with Secretary McDonald and also Deputy Secretary Gibson, we mentioned that we understand that they walked into, literally, a very deep pond with a lot of gators in it.

I would concur with the Chairman and the Ranking Member with regards to the Choice program.

I thank the gentleman. I appreciate those words of support. It certainly is important to the veterans in our State and in many States across the country that often find it very difficult to travel to local VA facilities, but now, with the…

The Department of Veterans Affairs is entrusted with the protection of a multitude of historic facilities. As I noted last year during debate on the VA's budget, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has found serious deficiencies…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act…

I tend to be a person who usually sides on the side of the argument to give the States flexibility.

I think when the Chairman and the Ranking Member both indicated at the very first meeting that while we are going to ask some really tough questions, our goal is to see that you succeed.

Earlier today, Chairman Isakson and I sent a letter to the Secretary of the VA with concerns on reimbursement changes to home health care and hospice care providers.

But, based on what we saw just in Denver and the challenges you have got there... maybe it is time that we not only start draining the swamp, but maybe we pull a few of those gators out and move them in a different direction, as well.

But long term, what does the VA bring to the table?

I appreciate the way you have laid out the three specific broad categories in which you saw failings.

We want you to be successful, and we want you to drain the pond.

It would appear that the original estimate was never correct to begin with in terms of what the cost would be.