Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, I really can't believe I have to say this out loud, but vaccines have been essential in reducing the severity of COVID. I would note that VA's vaccine requirement currently applies specifically to healthcare personnel, who are the people most in danger of not only contracting, but spreading this disease, especially to the vulnerable patients that VA serves, many of whom are at high risk for the long-term effects of COVID. Additionally, at its highest point during the pandemic, VA had over 15,000 staff unable to work due to either infection or exposure, with over 9,000 of those clinical staff. That has a significant impact on patient care, and I think we should all agree that no veteran should be turned away from care because there wasn't a provider available to treat them. VA took extremely reasonable steps to protect its patients and its workforce, and we shouldn't be tying VA's hands when it comes to managing their workforce and pursuing workplace safety and protecting its patients. It was a responsible decision to limit the vaccine requirement to care providers in clinical settings, and this amendment, if it passes, will ensure that more VA employees get sick, more of their patients will get sick, and there is a certainty that more people will die if we don't ensure that VA employees who treat patients are vaccinated. That is just common sense and should be understood based on the experience of the time we all spent battling the pandemic.…”