Political Quotes

“First let me thank you, Congressman Bishop, for yielding time, and also for your very thoughtful and steady leadership as our ranking member on this Appropriations Subcommittee. We appreciate your leadership. Also, I want to thank the chairman and, again, our ranking member for your bipartisan efforts, and also for including language in this bill which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress detailed plans to eliminate the backlog and improve the accuracy of the claims process within 6 months. I introduced this language because, first, I just have to say, as the daughter of a military veteran, I know firsthand the sacrifices and the commitment involved with military service. But let me say this: It is just totally unacceptable and shameful to force the very people who put their lives on the line to wait months--and, in some cases, years--to receive the benefits that they have earned. Last week, I joined with my colleague, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, and over 200 veterans at an event to address the backlog at the Oakland Veterans Affairs regional office. We listened to the veterans as they came up to speak one by one with a story and a struggle. The pain and suffering of these veterans, it was overwhelming. I wish, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member, you could have been there to listen to this testimony.…”