On the recordMay 28, 2014
As a Vietnam veteran, I rise today to offer my strong support for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, General Eric Shinseki. Since taking over the VA, General Shinseki has made veterans a top priority, enrolling over 2 million new veterans from our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and reducing veteran homelessness by about 24 percent. With new reports of coverups at VA facilities, the Secretary has also called for an independent review and nationwide audit, giving his word that he will do all he can to fix a system that was broken long before he took over. So let us stand together to do right by our veterans. General Shinseki is right for America's veterans. He is a tried and proven leader, the highest ranked Asian Pacific American in the history of the United States, who told our Nation the truth about Iraq when no one would listen. He will now tell us the truth about the VA. And once the independent review and audit is completed, he will hold accountable any and all who have done our veterans wrong. I say this to Secretary Shinseki: Do not resign. We are with you. Go for broke. And let's clean up this mess that had been there way before you took over. ____________________
