Mark Takano: “I have no further speakers. Before I close, I would like to say that I fully appreciate the work of my friend and…”

“I have no further speakers. Before I close, I would like to say that I fully appreciate the work of my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moulton), for the work he has done on this bill and for the way in which he is able to reach out to veterans and those who care for veterans across the country. I am especially pleased that included in this legislation is a specific way to independently assess the off-the-shelf technology as compared to the technology that is being developed in-house at the VA. I think these provisions will ensure that the taxpayer is protected in terms of cost, efficiency, and effectiveness. And, of course, bottom line, this means effectiveness for our veterans. We want to make sure that the best technology is put forward, whether it is in-house or whether it is the off-the-shelf choice, that we have a way to independently verify which is best. I want to encourage all of my colleagues to support this important legislation and join me in passing H.R. 4352. I yield back the balance of my time.”