David Shulkin

I want to be clear that I am committed to strengthening the VA system and will not support efforts to privatize this much needed and essential system.

I want to give a deep thanks to Senator Rubio, who sponsored the accountability bill.

I want to publicly commend Secretary Shulkin on having the fortitude to do that, pulling that trigger, so to speak, and pledge my support to help in every way possible to see the transition is smooth and works.

The fact that David Shulkin was confirmed 100 to nothing; the first Presidential appointee that was voted in unanimously.

We have to be as open minded on making Choice work in the future as we have been on finally getting accountability done yesterday.

We are going to have a program that is either going to be out of money, out of gas, or out of both.

We are implementing this program wrong.

Thank you for helping us enact the Veterans Choice Program Improvement Act.

We have to look at the 40-mile rule and the 30-day rule and make them better rules for the veteran.

We kept the veterans foremost in our minds, not ourselves as politicians or the press or somebody who wanted to play games.

We are looking for that type of relationship with you.

The Senate sent a pretty clear message to veterans that veterans are your priority.

Accountability had its pitfalls and had its potholes, but it was doable, and we proved it was doable.

The VA has recently taken several positive steps to care for veterans struggling with mental health issues.

I suffer from PTSD. This camp has done more for me than any counseling or medication.

Here I am sharing things with people who know what I am talking about. In civilian life, they want to say, 'I know how you feel.' But they really don't. Here, they know how you feel. It's been fabulous.

Turn the VA into the organization veterans and their families deserve, and one that America can take pride in

It does not address the backlog, which is considerable. Today it takes a veteran, if they file an appeal, six years before they are going to get an answer, on average.

Thank you in particular to Representative Coffman, who really enlightened me onto this problem.

Overhauling the health care system for Americans who answered the call of duty by serving in the military is a national priority.

I wish today I could tell you I have the tools to do the right thing, to be able to remove those employees. I do not, so, unfortunately, I need a new set of tools if I am going to be held accountable for turning this system around and…

We're able to accomplish so much more when we work strategically with our private and public sector partners.

I have no interest in privatizing the VA. I am interested in using our resources to help veterans.

I do not want to continue to spend taxpayer money, which is $25 million a year, maintaining buildings that are vacant or underutilized.

You need to do it in one month.