Mr. Secretary, not even 6 months ago, you came before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and you said you would oppose attempts to privatize the VA health care system.

we are in the process of dismembering the VA, taking resources away from the VA, putting it into the private sector.

before I begin, I would note my long friendship with the Presiding Officer. I was delighted to see him come back to the Senate. I wish him well now as he leaves the Senate. He is always welcome, by both Democrats and Republicans, when he…

the VA is moving away from the direction it was headed just 6 months ago; make no mistake about that.

if we aren't willing to take care of our veterans, we shouldn't be making them.

I implore you to be as up front as possible today and every day about the challenges you are facing.

Seeing the MISSION Act signed into law took the collective effort of all of us working closely together.

I still have a difficulty with one or two objections.

We are prepared in the next 2 years to do everything we can do to continue the cooperative spirit between Republicans and Democrats.

The MISSION Act is a truly transformative piece of legislation that will impact virtually every aspect of care that VA provides.

I ask unanimous consent to speak. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I commend my two friends, the Senator from Missouri and the Senator from Minnesota, for what they have done. I am going to speak briefly about S.J. Res. 54. It would remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities either in or affecting the…

without losing my right to the floor, I yield to the distinguished Senator from Minnesota for remarks on the matter we just moved.

I know I was supposed to speak next, but I know the distinguished Senator from Missouri has a unanimous consent request, so I yield to him.

Thank you. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to amendment No. 4096, as modified.

we are actually at a historic moment here in the U.S. Senate. I want to thank all of the Senators who in a very bipartisan way have come together to say that the United States will no longer participate in the Saudi-led intervention in…

I just want to clarify with Senator Cornyn so there is no confusion: His amendment deals strictly with Israel and not regional allies; am I correct on that?

let me congratulate Senator Menendez for his leadership role in addressing this crisis in Saudi Arabia. In a few minutes, we are going to begin voting on a historical piece of legislation, because I think, as conservatives have understood…