Debbie Wasserman Schultz: “this en bloc contains eight amendments that will make this bill worse than it already is. It includes a funding cut to…”

“this en bloc contains eight amendments that will make this bill worse than it already is. It includes a funding cut to the Veterans Benefits Administration, further exacerbating the backlogs in processing disability compensation claims, leading to long waits for veterans. The Republican MILCON-VA bill already cuts the NATO Security Investment Program by $188 million. This amendment would further cut it by another $4.1 million. It is shocking that my Republican colleagues would condone this, especially while they are offering amendments encouraging the speedier processes of claims and lamenting the delays in countless Republican speeches. NATO infrastructure investment receives robust funding from our NATO partners, but there is an illegal Russian war going on, so it would seem that we need more investments in NATO infrastructure now more than ever. Yet, this amendment would further cut into it. The amendment also seeks to continue the Republican push to privatize VA medical care. The bill already includes a 67 percent increase to medical community care which is an increase without justification or rationale. We received no backup information from the administration whatsoever as to why they proposed this or why it is necessary because it isn't. It is a simple additional attempt to march the VA toward prioritization and away from what we know veterans want. The amendment promotes untested and dangerous medical treatment for our veterans.”