Mark Takano: “I thank the ranking member for mentioning that so that it doesn't detract from my time. But please visit California…”

“I thank the ranking member for mentioning that so that it doesn't detract from my time. But please visit California, especially Riverside, California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 114, which prevents a funding lapse in the VA Choice Program while making critical investments to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs. This legislation is a significant improvement over the bill we considered earlier this week. It now includes leasing authorizations for VA medical facilities in 17 States across the country, and it includes several provisions that I introduced that will help address the VA's workforce shortages. This is what I hope to be the first step in providing the VA the tools it needs to meet its internal workforce challenges. As I have often said, the VA's ability to provide quality and timely care to our Nation's veterans will be determined by who it hires. There are nearly 50,000 vacancies at the VA that need to be filled. This bill strengthens and streamlines the VA's ability to recruit, hire, and retain talented and dedicated individuals. But more needs to be done to expand the VA's own internal capacity to provide care for our veterans. The VA Choice Program is a well-intentioned program, but it has not delivered on its promise to consistently cut wait times or improve care. We do not want to be back here in January passing another short- term fix.…”