Debbie Wasserman Schultz

I hope the Navy and Marine Corps will fully embrace these additional accountability measures and will fully implement the recommendations, including increasing communications with residents regarding their rights and their options.

We must ensure this program is taking care of the Navy's shipbuilding needs now and well into the future, which I know you agree with.

I hope to hear an update on the planning for both immediate cleanup and long-term solutions.

I am generally pleased with the overall direction of this funding request, but there are certain specific areas that I do wish to cover.

The progress the Navy and Marine Corps makes towards improving the quality of life for our Sailors, Marines, and their families will undoubtedly help recruitment and retention efforts.

I think we need the TEF and we need to break out VA medical care as a third category.

I am very supportive, as you know, and I have--did it last year as well for the third budget category for the VA for medical care.

I mean, I think the second-bite emphasis is an important point.

So can you specifically, you know, knock down or dispel the concern? Because my understanding is that your application of the use of the TEF is directly consistent with the law.

I commend you and all of the folks at the VA for moving in the direction you are.

I am here today because I was able to detect my breast cancer early.

2022-level funding would put that at risk.

Can you discuss what the impact would be on women's healthcare if VA funding levels were rolled back to the 2022 funding levels?

This proposal to cut VA programs back to fiscal year 2022 levels plays politics with veterans' lives.

$20.3 billion in mandatory funding through the Toxic Exposures Fund ensures our commitment to the PACT Act and to our veterans.

I am pleased to see the administration using the full authority of the Toxic Exposures Fund in its budget request.

I am also pleased to welcome you back, Mr. Secretary, to the MILCON-VA Subcommittee.

That kind of despair and losing a potential lifer is really troubling.

If the pace of funding for our housing improvement slows or stalls, it would really reverse our road to recovery.

The President requested $305 million for Army family housing construction, and that's nearly $136 million increase.

I agree, it is a tragic and really important topic.

If we are wondering why they have a recruitment and retention problem, this would be one of the most glaring examples of that reason.

I am appalled by it as much as you are, and I am going to continue to try to find ways to solve this problem.

We talk about prevalence of sexual assaults in the military, harassment, unwanted contact every year, and it doesn't seem like any substantive change has been made.

And let's be clear, this is not just unwanted touching. I mean, there are too many cases that are much more serious than that.