Mark Takano

I just want to get you to commit that we will have more staff briefings in the near future all of this.

I am not saying you are hiding anything, Mr. Secretary, I am just befuddled.

I want to highlight a concern of mine regarding VA not requesting a second bite.

I am thrilled to see that the budget request includes investments that will strengthen veterans' healthcare, bolster mental health services, and suicide prevention programs.

I believe that budgets reflect our priorities and values, and I am glad that President Biden's priorities for veterans align with mine.

I am very proud of these accomplishments, but we need to build on these achievements and continue our fight for better health care and benefits in this Congress and beyond.

We were not going to let this happen again. Thanks to our efforts last Congress, we kept our promise.

Our bipartisan bill expands VA health care to over three and a half million veterans living with the effects of toxic exposure.

Mr. Takano's priorities and my priorities for this Congress include opposing efforts to cut over $31 billion in VA funding.

Getting the PACT Act to President Biden's desk is a testament to the strong advocacy and support from passionate groups like yours.

I again ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 1226, as amended, the Wounded Warrior Access Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I have no further speakers. In closing, let me just say, it was a delight to join my colleague from Michigan at the Joni Mitchell concert and stand up and participate in ``Big Yellow Taxi,'' which is his favorite song. Mr. Speaker, I yield…

I have no further speakers. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me to pass H.R. 502, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

It is imperative that we hold the line on VA's budget so that veterans are not once again left fighting each other or the general public for benefits they have earned and undoubted deserve.

We need to keep our promises.

The budget cuts endorsed by some of my colleagues at the beginning of this Congress represent a nearly $31 billion cut to veterans programs.

It is imperative that we do everything we can to protect VA's ability to deliver on the promise we have made to our veterans.

It is imperative that we hold the line on VA's budget so that veterans are not once again left fighting each other or the general public for benefits they have earned and undoubted deserve.

We need to keep our promises.

The budget cuts endorsed by some of my colleagues at the beginning of this Congress represent a nearly $31 billion cut to veterans programs.

It appears that veterans will be asked to sacrifice on behalf of the nation, in this case their hard-earned health care and benefits.

It is imperative that we do everything we can to protect VA's ability to deliver on the promise we have made to our veterans.

None of this can happen if we subject VA to the large and arbitrary budget cuts that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have endorsed.

It is imperative that we hold the line on VA's budget so that veterans are not once again left fighting each other or the general public for benefits they have earned and undoubted deserve.

The budget cuts endorsed by some of my colleagues at the beginning of this Congress represent a nearly $31 billion cut to veterans programs.