We will not let the detractors tear us down nor let the protractors protract it out, but instead work together to improve the VA.

the delivery of that health care is locked in the 19th century while the quality of that health care is in the 21st century.

We are costing ourselves more money by letting deferred maintenance cause obsolescence than by having an active maintenance process.

The leasing mechanisms at the VA are deplorable. The construction disciplines are deplorable.

The reason we came up with this was choice, and it is a choice.

I want to make sure the goal is achieved in improving services and unifying the VA and the VA employees but does not end up resulting in more payroll, more employees, and more bureaucracy.

Well, let me ask you this way. Do you believe that it is appropriate for Healthcare.gov to receive money from the CDC?

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to come before you to talk about and support H.R. 5, the Student Success Act. Mr. Speaker, this is legislation to replace No Child Left Behind, to restore local control over education, and to…

Well, sir, would you believe that it should not be a strange subject to you, seeing that this is the area that you are responsible for?

I appreciate what you just said because the creative community, this is something that I have fought for and will continue to fight for.

I must also mention the budget makes some decisions that many in Congress will resist.

I want to thank the gentleman from Minnesota for his work on this bill. It is a very important bill, and it is certainly very applicable to what is going on in our country right now. Mr. Chairman, Federal intervention in our Nation's…

In closing, Mr. Secretary, we must make certain that in meeting the demands of the fiscal austerity, we do not leave any question about our will and our ability to defend ourselves and our interests around the world.

Sequester did not create ISIS, that depraved, barbaric force that grew as a result of our premature withdrawal from Iraq.

the sequester did not create the existing security climate that reflects indecision, hesitation, or some call it ambivalence in our defense in foreign policy.

the sequester did not create ISIS.

the sequester will have serious ramifications for our troops and our national security.

BCA is the law of the land. And, therefore, if we exceed the caps, we are going to be talking about sequester, which I hate, everybody at Fort Hood hates, and everybody in my district hates.