This has been a very important hearing.

This country, above and beyond the VA, faces a major crisis. We do not have enough doctors, we do not have enough nurses, we do not have enough psychiatrists, we do not have enough psychologists.

I was very happy to support an amendment that makes telemedicine available for active military anywhere in this country.

This will no doubt be a very difficult hearing because of what we are going to be touching on today: what happens to the men and women who come home from war, who have served us with great courage, and what happens to them when they return…

I will say it again. You know, it will be billions we will be spending on what is going on in ISIS without any funding source for it.

We need to know that they are hurting and they need to know that we are there for them.

When we send $500 million to fund rebels in ISIS with no funding source to pay for it, but when we debate veterans' bills, we can never find the money is outrageous.

When people are hurting, they should be able to get the help they need.

If I may reclaim my time and wind down and finish my remarks, there are two basic issues. No. 1, I know many of my Republican friends deny what the overwhelming majority of scientists are telling us; that is, not only is climate change…

The issue that we are dealing with today is of enormous consequence for our country and, in fact, for the entire planet. For that reason I rise in very strong opposition to the legislation on the floor and to the construction of the…

I thank the Senator. I would mention that several years ago we worked together to pass the Energy Efficiency Block Grant Program, which pumped billions of dollars into weatherization, into sustainable energy. I can tell you that in the…

When people are hurting, they do not want to hear that they have to wait 2 months to see a provider.

It is incredibly difficult to talk about these issues, which we all really admire your courage and your strength for being willing to be here to share your stories with us today.

I think you are here to make sure other families do not experience what you have experienced.

People who served in the military have an extraordinarily strong community of people depending upon each other every day.

We have virtually no mental health capabilities.

It means passing legislation that I have sponsored on ensuring that there is loan forgiveness for people who get into the field of mental health services.

By the way, I just served over in the House in the last 4 years when the Republicans--the tea party--took over the House of Representatives. What did they do on an ongoing basis? Cut incentives for renewables, cut the energy efficiency…