The moral of the story here is this bill would pull back hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for wildlife and habitat conservation.

I would like to enter into the record a stack of pretend money, we affectionately call it 'Bruce bucks,' as evidence of the actual value of the investments from this legislation.

the main point of the blue ribbon panel was this guaranteed annual funding, and the level of guaranteed annual funding needed to do the job.

We know for sure that under this bill there are going to be some cuts: $1.4 billion rescinded from the IRA and IIJA.

this bill that we are considering today is all we got.

With the sunset, it actually takes you backward, right?

Even if I throw in a stack of Bruce bucks?

But thoughtful, bipartisan lawmaking fell out of favor when team extreme took over the House.

it point blank undermines existing habitat conservation efforts.

I am proud to see H.R. 7409, the 'Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources Act' or the 'HEATS Act' considered in today's hearing.

Delivering VA for all veterans, irrespective of their age, gender, sexual orientation, or race.

The PACT Act continues to be a good-news story, the law is not without its challenges.

Today VA is receiving and processing more claims for disability compensation than ever before.

I will resist vigorously any attempts to undermine the law and shift back to the old funding paradigm.

I want to thank the VFW for your support for the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act.

The legislative response to those issues from this Congress has largely been nonexistent.

I will continue to fight for real, concrete, actionable solutions to the problems veterans currently face.

I am less optimistic, albeit still hopeful about the willingness or ability of the House majority to do what is right.