Political Quotes

“I want to start by thanking Chairman Sanders of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, where I serve, for his extraordinary vision and leadership and join him in thanking the majority leader for his commitment to this kind of comprehensive and aggressive approach to revise and reinvigorate, reinvent and reform, veterans programs in a comprehensive and overarching approach. I will be speaking at greater length in the days and weeks to come, but I want to join the Senator in committing all of us--I hope on a bipartisan basis--to this effort to fix the flaws and fulfill the vision this Nation owes to the men and women who have served and sacrificed year after year. This program recognizes a fundamental truth: We are dealing with different populations of different ages, and within those populations, people with different needs and challenges, and a comprehensive program is necessary to address the obligation. It is an obligation we owe them to make sure that we leave no veteran behind and keep faith with every man and woman who has served and sacrificed for this Nation. It fixes the flaws of the last budget agreement that reduced the cost-of-living adjustment on retirees' pensions. It commits the Nation to economic opportunity and real jobs--training for the jobs that exist now and the jobs of the future. It reforms loan and aid programs for college education and also for noncollege education. It addresses the gaps in health care, not just by promising but performing.…”