John Boozman

Well, thank you all for being with us, and I apologize for being late.

Is there anything more that Congress can do to authorize the VA to expedite the claims process to ensure veterans are receiving benefits in a timely manner?

Effective April 3d, as we talked about earlier, in 2020, the VBA suspended all in-person C&P exams due to the pandemic.

To help address this issue, we worked closely with the members on this Committee to provide the authority for the VA to enhance their capacity to conduct C&P exams.

It is great that we are returning to some normalcy and we do appreciate not only your efforts but your staff that have done a tremendous job through all of this.

Well, we appreciate you guys so much, and so we should recess again.

For years this committee has supported expanding and enhancing VA telehealth's efforts, particularly for rural and highly rural veterans.

Clearly this has been a successful effort to date.

Well, we will come back. Again, we appreciate that very much.

And I want to follow up on the digital divide that we are, you know, discussing now.

We appreciate the witnesses coming today to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs telehealth programs.

The speed with which the VA did so is truly remarkable.

We must continue to honor those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

Under no circumstances should DIC payments be at a lower rate than other Federal survivor benefits.

This Committee must work to honor Sharri's sacrifice and ensure they are supported.

TAPS is grateful to Chairman Tester and Senator Boozman for reintroducing the Caring for Survivors Act of 2021.

I worry is that the Biden administration's singular focus on climate policy could actually create an environment where our farmers and producers are not seen as part of the solution but instead they are being targeted as the problem.

Will you commit, without reservation, to notify Congress in advance of any public announcement of any major changes regarding policy decisions?

Thank you, Madam Chair, and again, we appreciate, Dr. Bronaugh, your willingness to serve.

As Congress considers additional climate policies, I urge my colleagues that we should address such legislation in a diligent, collaborative, and bipartisan manner.

I have focused on here in the U.S. Senate and worked with Senator Tammy Baldwin.

Will you commit to ensuring that those employed at USDA... use official government email accounts, not personal email?

We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Jewel Bronaugh to the Committee this morning as we consider her nomination to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.

Will you commit to advocating for our farmers, our producers, and rural communities as the administration continues to roll out their executive edicts on climate?

It is important that USDA and this Committee keep farmers and producers at the forefront of any discussion on climate change.