Susan Davis: “I want to thank Dr. Heck and the committee staff for working in a bipartisan manner to develop this bill and…”

“I want to thank Dr. Heck and the committee staff for working in a bipartisan manner to develop this bill and particularly recognize Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership during this process. The bill includes many provisions that will provide the military services flexibility to recruit and retain members of our Armed Forces and to continue our commitment to taking care of military families. One provision that we have expands parental leave for military members to 14 days as well as expanding adoption leave for dual military couples to 36 days to be split between them. It also requires DOD to study flexible maternity and paternity leave sharing for all of our dual military couples. This bill includes reforms that will put the commissary on a sustainable path while protecting the benefit for our servicemembers, retirees, and their families. It also begins to reform and modernize the military healthcare system. Although we would all agree it is not perfect, this bill is long needed to start ensuring that our servicemembers, retirees, and their families continue to receive the best health care in the world through efficient and economical means. Important issues were addressed in this bill. I support many of the reforms and all of the hard work that went into them. However, I am extremely concerned with how this bill is funded.…”