Mark Takano

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I support this amendment because, by clarifying that vet centers are covered under the bill, we are ensuring that veterans seeking healthcare at any VA facility are allowed access-at-no-cost childcare…

We have the data to show how access to healthcare services improves and saves lives, but I think it is important that we also hear from the veterans and the providers whose lives have been improved by this program. I would like to share…

Just in response, the pay-for to which the gentleman from Tennessee is referring is under mandatory spending, which would not actually pay for the program. It would be returned to the Treasury, and the discretionary funds simply--there is…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I support this amendment because it provides an important clarification that veterans receiving physical therapy for a service- connected disability will be able to access no-cost childcare. When 50…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I support this amendment because it will allow Congress to receive the critical data and information it needs to determine how to expand this program and the feasibility of expanding this program to…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I support this amendment because veterans are not immune from the opioid epidemic. They are not immune to alcoholism or substance abuse. When a veteran is also suffering from post-traumatic stress or…

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I support this amendment because, by clarifying that community-based outpatient clinics are covered under the bill, we are ensuring that veterans seeking healthcare services at any VA facility are…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I want to make note that we just have gotten a release that the VA has exceeded 1 million telehealth visits in fiscal year 2018. That one-year achievement represents a 19 percent increase…

I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I have no further speakers. I urge support for the gentleman's amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cloud). The amendment was agreed…

This bill is also supported by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Vietnam Veterans of America, and other veterans service organizations. So I am pleased to say that we have heard the VSOs weigh in on Ms. Brownley's…

I would just wish to point out to the ranking member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, General Bergman, that his amendment would not even allow for the repurposing of existing facility…

Of course, I believe that we need a strong, you know, baseline of a minimum wage.

We need something more immediate, more accessible.

We do agree on immigration reform and the value of immigrants in our economy.

I appreciate my Republican colleagues inviting, you know, Mr. Holtz-Eakin to give us, you know, the conservative point of view.

I certainly don't want to see expectations unnecessarily raised at the State of the Union speech.

I look forward to working with you in the next Congress to serve our Nation's veterans.

I do look forward to hearing as soon as possible more about the designated access standards.

The last thing we need is to have funding for VA's core mission get wasted.

I am a little concerned that this decision could be made, you know, the night before he delivers his speech.

I commend you on your hard work so far and assure you that, as we move into next Congress, you will continue to find a willing partner on this Committee.

It has been very disappointing to see, in the last 2 years, an administration that has not been able to put in place stable leadership at the VA.

What a pleasure it has been to be your colleague.

I am cautiously optimistic that the implementation will be successful.