I thank the gentleman from Virginia. I appreciate the words, the wisdom, and the heartfelt nature of what he just spoke to. I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa) for sharing those thoughts with us. The Pacific Ocean all the way to the Atlantic is covered by our speakers today. We had East Coast speakers from Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia…

I want to thank the gentleman from Texas and all the other speakers who joined us during this hour. It has been really wonderful to recognize and commemorate the 75th anniversary of National Bible Week. I would like to thank the National…

I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Jeff Miller, both in the committee and with this particular piece of legislation. Mr. Chairman, our veterans demand the strong accountability tools contained in H.R. 5620. Since the Phoenix wait-list…

I thank the chairman for the great work. We are going to miss his leadership next year when he goes into other pursuits. He will be sorely missed, and veterans will miss him. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of a missed opportunity in…

I was unavoidably detained for rollcall vote 495. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye''.

We like to use words like transformation and reform, but how willing are we really to challenge the status quo and consider bold reform.

They don't believe that things have substantially changed for the better.

We have two main challenges today, as I see it. First, how do we at least ensure that we take what is good in the report and make a reality.

The VHA's systematic problems demanded, quote, 'far reaching and complex changes that when taken together amount to no less than a system-wide reworking of VHA,' unquote.

I thank the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 5119, the No 2H2O from Iran Act. It is now clear that a glaring side effect of the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran is that it incentivizes Iran to…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made…

I would just like to point out that this species should have never been listed in the first place. It is highly disputed and contentious science that it was ever even listed at all. So on the previous amendment I think we discussed how the…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made…

Depending on how you look at the budget, we are talking about, like, let's say $11 billion, and they just have to do a better job of prioritizing their work. It is not our fault that they are not doing the required 5-year species review. I…

The gentlewoman has raised an interesting point. On the surface, there is some merit to what she says. However, there is one big flaw. She wasn't aware because she wasn't in the hearing, but when BLM came and spoke to our committee, I said…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made…

It is not right that families are penalized if a veteran uses the Choice program.

Our veterans answer our nation's call, and we shouldn't leave them waiting on the line.

It is not fair that families are penalized if a veteran uses the Choice program.

the plea was: The process is broken, we are failing veterans, the time to fix it is now.

if we hold this opportunity hostage for perfection or total unanimity, we are never going to get anything done.

I ask Members to support H.R. 5416, which would help the families of deceased veterans who received care through the Choice program.

we have got to get to a point here in Washington where 'compromise' isn't a dirty word.

Thank you all for your service to our country in various capacities.