We can build on America's competitive edge in innovation. We can help American workers tap into that market. Or we can let China eat our lunch.

Are you not concerned about the negative impacts on morale that this move will have on the affected employees?

When we have a president who denies climate change, who thinks that wind turbines cause cancer, and who undermines consumers and businesses by undoing energy saving rules for cars and light bulbs, America is missing out on a huge economic…

We desperately need your help and we need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to empower you.

I think it is true that veterans--the Veterans' Committee is the most bipartisan forum in Congress.

I would like to start with my friend, Gus Bilirakis, who is the Ranking Member on the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee from Florida.

As long as I have the opportunity to serve as a Member of Congress this will be a top priority of mine and I think a top priority of my colleagues as well.

If local governments can't figure out how to approve the housing that we need in appropriate areas, right, then perhaps we shouldn't be the ones tasked.

We must look to new models for providing HUD-VASH vouchers to homeless veterans and, potentially, incentivize landlords to take more vouchers.

We, as a society, still have a stigma around the unseen wounds of war that is preventing veterans when they transition out from getting help.

This Congress and my Subcommittee has continued working to improve the variety of Federal programs that currently exist to support our homeless veterans.

I worked to end veteran homelessness while in Congress.

I have introduced two bills, both of which have passed this committee.

If you can solve veteran homelessness in southern California, you can solve it anywhere.

So I wanted to address that. As I understand it, community agencies refer veterans to HUD-VASH through the coordinated entry system.

Without you, the Federal government cannot do this alone.

Without helping veterans find meaningful employment, we are only providing homeless veterans temporary housing and not setting them up for positive long-term outcomes.

Thank you to the Veterans Service Organizations.

We have to find a way to crack this nut to make sure that that veteran who has that voucher has a place to go.

We need all of you to continue the work, to work together to help us get in this region, in San Diego and really throughout the United States, to an effective rate of zero veteran homelessness.

I have had no greater honor in my first eight months of service than to be the Chairman of this Subcommittee where we have the chance to give back in a small way to the veterans who have given so much in service of our country.

And I support two bills that my colleague, Mr. Peters, has introduced to improve the HUD-VASH program, which provides housing vouchers to our homeless veterans.

I am proud of the progress we have made nationally over the last decade.

One of my bills, the Housing for Women Veterans Act, would ensure a portion of supportive services for veteran families grants go to organizations that have a focus on women veterans and their families.

Getting that help is what will keep them housed and keep them employed and keep them in a life of purpose.