David Jolly: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition, respectfully, to this motion not because anybody here…”

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition, respectfully, to this motion not because anybody here opposes expanded access to care. I believe we all do. But I oppose it today because it interferes, I believe, with the urgency of getting a clean bill out of conference. Mr. Speaker, the chairman has done great work. There are bills over there that the Senate could approve tomorrow. But if we encumber our conferees and we encumber this conference committee any more, we risk delaying final passage of a bill that is intended to get health care to the veterans now to clear the wait list now. That is the urgency. We all have ideas for long-term reforms. This Member has his own ideas for long-term reform. We have to work those through the process. I believe we should consider giving every veteran a Choice Card and let them choose where they want to go. I believe we should consider competitively awarding management contracts for many of our VA health care facilities so that veterans who want to stay in the VA health care system can do so but can rely on more efficient and more responsible management. I think we should consider streamlining DOD health with TRICARE, with the VA, and look for efficiencies there. But those are all matters for another day, for another committee hearing, for another bill, and for another piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, we should not encumber our conferees any more than they already are in having to negotiate with the Senate.…”