Political Quotes

“With respect to the amendment by the other Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain, while I am very sympathetic to the point he has made about the need to improve VA's claim processing, I join with the manager of the bill, the distinguished chair, in opposing it. We have been concerned. We have worked all year long to assist VA in dealing with the unacceptable backlog in VA claims processing. Nobody has been a more forceful, consistent spokesperson about the need to bring up-to-date and up-to-speed VA claims processing than the Senator from Maryland. I have listened to her for hours on end in the Appropriations Committee as she has sought more money, as she has admonished officials of the VA to get with it and get on the ball and get these claims processed. This has really been a crusade she has led. I agree with her 100 percent. We are totally in agreement that VA claims processing is extremely important. It is a matter of justice and fairness to the people who have protected our country, and we have a long way to go. We believe this should be the highest priority. I agree with her, and I thank her for her kind words about Secretary Principi. We are excited to have a man of his background, his commitment, and his dedication at the helm in VA. This is a difficult management problem. It is a resource problem. It is a personnel problem. We are totally committed to supporting Secretary Principi as far as we can.”