They both have been designated colonias, and they are ineligible for some USDA rural development funds.

I could not think of a better person to be Secretary of Agriculture because you served as Governor from a rural State.

Thank you very much for that initiative, because I have many communities in my State that I think need that kind of initiative.

This Promise Zone would really make a difference.

The unemployment rate there is totally unacceptable. It is near 50 percent.

I look forward to working with you, Chief, to make sure we do extend that program and working with my colleagues.

We want to improve the oversight of how we spend over $80 billion annually on information technology across the Federal Government.

I fully respect the fact that you took this assignment, Mr. Secretary, at a difficult time during great publicity around a serious scandal.

Our veterans have earned the best care we can provide, the appointment scandal showed a disturbing disregard for health and safety of our heroes.

However, more veterans are unhappy with the decisions on their claims, which has led to more appeals.

the VA's budget justification specifically supports research into exposure to airborne particulate matter from burn pits.

We are going to have to keep that up to regain and maintain the trust of America's veterans, and I know that you all are committed to that.

We called for OMB to publish a top 10 list for the highest priority IT investments across the government.

I look forward to an update on this research as it moves forward on how we can ensure veterans get the treatment they need for such exposure.

the military's ability to meet future global challenges is directly tied to its facilities.

years of reduced MILCON budgets and deferred maintenance have resulted in facilities and infrastructure that may not be adequate.

I am happy to see that the Albuquerque VA has made significant progress, the percentage of backlog claims from around 60 percent in 2013 to 20 percent just last month.

But it is also one of the most frustrating. As I have said here before, the majority of veterans are satisfied with the care they receive from the VA when and if they can get it.