I am pleased to join my colleagues today to show our continued support for improvements to the VA Community Care Programs. Last year, under the leadership of Senate VA Committee Chairman Isakson and Ranking Member Tester, we passed the VA…

I am in its present form. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to recommit. The Clerk read as follows: Mr. Womack moves to recommit the bill H.R. 2740 to the Committee on Appropriations. The SPEAKER pro tempore…

I have 12 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following…

Exploring ways to help lift people out of poverty is not new to this Committee.

I think the common thing that we have learned is that we have a poverty issue in our country.

I don't think there is a person up here who doesn't want to help every American achieve the American Dream.

This has been truly the honor of a lifetime. One of the most incredible experiences anybody could ever imagine and that's because I've had the chance to be on the front row of history and watch you drastically change our country for the…

I wanted to speak today about the proposed disapproval of arms sales to our Gulf partners, Bahrain and Qatar. Last month, the administration notified Congress of its intention to sell Apache helicopters to Qatar. Those helicopters will…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Florida will be postponed. Amendment No. 37 offered by Mr. Hill of Arkansas The Acting…

I will finish by saying that all through this healthcare debate that we have had over the last 10 years--and I have been here 8\1/2\ years of that--it has all been about access to healthcare. This gentlewoman's amendment, Madam Chair…

I claim the time in opposition to the gentlewoman's amendment, Madam Chair. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arkansas is recognized for 5 minutes.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Strike page 72, line 17, and all that follows through page 73, line 23. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House…

Let me simply say that, simply put, at $768 per enrollee, the navigator program is a waste of taxpayer resources. With ever-shrinking budget pressure, we are better off spending this money on NIH research or doing something that will help…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 5, line 9, strike ``only''. Page 7, line 5, strike ``only''. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House…

May I inquire how much time I have remaining. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arkansas has 30 seconds remaining.

I urge a ``yes'' vote to offer flexibility for contract apprenticeships across this country, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Chair, may I ask how much time I have remaining. The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman…

Let me say that I appreciate the in-demand job work that the committee has put in place in the bill. That is wonderful. And I appreciate my friend from Connecticut's passion for this topic. I share it. I support DOL-supported…

I would like to return to the topic today of apprenticeships that are so important to our workforce across this country. My amendment would strip a portion of the bill that would spend hundreds of millions of dollars to only support…