Doug Lamborn

I am concerned about that. It sounds wonderful, but to me it does not sound like a core function of the U.S. Geological Survey.

I just wish that the budget that we just talked about, that the line items in particular were more reflective of a stronger priority on the core mission of USGS, at least the original core mission up until recent years maybe, the focus…

It is time that the Survey get back to its roots, providing the foundational knowledge of the nation's geology, energy, and mineral resources.

Do you agree that that would be a violation of, apart from whatever a Court might say, that is a violation of private property rights?

With all the near-term position and personnel cuts and freezes (both contractors and defense), are they all synchronized so that we don't have a gap in covering the mission and services?

To conclude, this resolution asks us to focus on the impacts of restrictive regulations just like these, and that is what we plan to do. We will focus on how we can clear away these regulatory hurdles to create a path for energy security…

I mourn the over 50 million American lives cut short by abortion since Roe v. Wade and pray that God continues to heal those touched by this tragic practice. I will remain steadfast in the fight for the rights and dignity of the unborn…

These are vital facts to have. It really is a lot more expensive. And it is going to raise taxes and throw people out of the insurance they have now than what the administration was claiming. So if we had known this maybe it wouldn't have…

This report has shown that this is going to be a lot more expensive, that it's going to raise taxes, that it's going to raise health insurance premiums, that it's going to make people drop out of the existing coverage they have. They will…

I would like to say that I take exception to the suggestion that this process has been conducted in an open way. We have 3,800 pages of materials right here that we have been given in the last 3 days. Who on earth is able to go through…

In just a moment. And we should have gone farther. We did not do that. We only went halfway. So it's still undefined who has final control over imposing all the regulations. And I have veterans in my district, a hundred thousand of them…

Let me say in response to the gentleman from New Jersey that it was a good step we took with the Ike Skelton bill today. It solved half the problem. We still have a remaining problem, and that is that it's not clear, like it should be, who…

The service performed by aviators in the U.S. Armed Forces is indeed meritorious. They have fought bravely and risked much to take care of our country. Indeed, they deserve the recognition and care for their sacrifice that this resolution…

My good friend has raised a point. I don't know if he was able to be here at the beginning of this resolution, but we had a wonderful discussion about the tremendous valor shown in Iwo Jima. But this is a discussion also--

I had the great privilege of standing on Iwo Jima a year ago... There is a wonderful memorial there right now. It's very touching and very moving for all the reasons that Representative Braley has highlighted.

Again, VCS thanks to Chairman Hall and Ranking Member Lamborn for your continued leadership on this issue and your strong dedication to our veterans and their families.

It is imperative that this subcommittee continue to exercise its oversight responsibilities to ensure that this time the IT program works and is on time.

I look forward to hearing about how all of these pilots and laboratory initiatives will put VA on track to processing its compensation and pension claims in a virtual environment using a twenty-first century processing platform.

The backlog is a major concern for everyone who is a stakeholder in veterans' issues, and I believe that through a bipartisan, collaborative effort, we will begin to resolve the issues that have hampered VA for so many years.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I also welcome everyone to this hearing, which is the first of our 2nd session, and I look forward to continuing the progress that we have made so far in the 111th Congress.

I thank you for helping my efforts to pass H.R. 174 which I introduced with my good friend Mr. Salazar earlier this year.

I believe that VA should conduct a preemptive review of the NCA's obstacles in meeting the National Shrine Mandate.

Well, that is real exciting. Would you be able to, if there is any way our office can help you in that visit we would be very happy to do so.

Also, last year Chairman Hall and I had a field hearing in Colorado Springs to discuss cemetery issues.

I have twice introduced a bill with Mr. Salazar, which would direct the Secretary of the VA to establish a national cemetery in El Paso County.