Richard Blumenthal

That may be a key to involving more women in seeking health care through the VA system, the availability of women physicians.

In addition to the other challenges that the VA has in recruiting more professionals, female professionals to deal with women's health care issues.

That point about women's child care is very, very important.

Thanks to all of you for being here today. Thank you for your service.

VA's consensus proposal was put forward as a discussion draft by Ranking Member Blumenthal.

If we fail to act now, the magnitude of the problem will continue to compound.

If Congress accepts that the current VA appeals process is broken and that the status quo is unacceptable for Veterans, then there is a choice to be made.

This legislation would modernize the veteran appeals process, better serving veterans, taxpayers, and the Nation for years to come.

I am still concerned that the culture of the VA and the ability to welcome female veterans and provide health care services to them in a sensitive and tailored manner may not be keeping pace with the number and the needs of those veterans.

The current VA appeals process is broken, and is providing Veterans a frustrating experience.

Focusing for the moment on delivery of services to women veterans, there is a request for $515.4 million for gender-specific health care for women and nearly $5.3 million in total care for women, which recognizes the need to consider the…

I want to first just mention the elephant in the room, which is the potential hurdles and obstacles to approval of this budget in the potential gridlock and paralysis in the budget process overall.

Connecticut, I am very delighted to say, is at the forefront of that effort, in fact, announced just last week that we have ended homelessness for veterans in Connecticut.

We have a common national interest in making sure it succeeds?

I think what is necessary is a plan with specifics, and I understand that great progress has been made.

This weapons platform will be critical to our national defense throughout the century.

I led a letter to President Obama, with a number of my colleagues, calling for immediate enforcement of sanctions against Iran.

Considering the gap that we are approaching in submarine capabilities, wouldn't it be wise to consider building three submarines a year?

Clearly, more must be done to deter Iran from continued aggressive pursuit of this program.

I want to close again by simply thanking you for your dedication to the submarine program, which means so much to our Nation.

I want to second all my colleagues in thanking each of you for your extraordinary service to our Nation over so many years.

I have long been concerned, as many of my colleagues have been, about the Iran ballistic missile program.

USSOUTHCOM's ability to interdict flows of illicit substances is extremely limited.

There is no reason to believe that the intentions of Russia and China, who are our most advanced competitors in this sphere, are in any way moderating or reducing their plans to build their undersea warfare capability.

Recapitalizing our sea-based strategic deterrent remains your top priority.