Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, the gentleman's debate on this amendment was spoken like a man who is refusing to acknowledge that the fastest growing group of veterans served by the VA is women. In March of last year, the VA announced it was updating its 1959 mission statement to read: ``To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our Nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.'' That was a way to make the VA a more inclusive and inviting place and to acknowledge that it is not only men who have served in our military, nor is it only men who are served at the VA. The VA's previous mission statement read: ``To fulfill President Lincoln's promise `to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan,' by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans.'' The VA is a place where all veterans should feel welcome, included, and cared for. The previous mission statement did not adequately reflect the modern-day veteran population by only honoring men's service. As I said, today, women are the fastest growing group of veterans. It is about time that they are reflected in the VA's mission statement, and I am pleased that the VA made this important and meaningful change. What we are doing here now is, again, wasting time debating a poison pill, culture war amendment that was put to bed and excluded in the FY24 conference report. This was language that was removed last year.…”