Marco Rubio

This is a clear image of what rewarding mediocrity and failure looks like at the Departmental level--failure that cascades down from the leadership to the frontline employee, and ultimately, to the underserved veteran.

Thank you for holding this hearing today.

The bill is S. 1082, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2015, introduced by Senator Marco Rubio.

We believe this bill is badly needed--and critical to VA's recovery--because so much of what ills VA stems from a dysfunctional and bureaucratic culture that has infected the organization at all levels.

We believe S. 1082 is critical to overhauling a dysfunctional and bureaucratic culture that has infected VA at all levels.

This common sense bill--S. 1082--simply expands the Secretary's authority to swiftly remove poor employees, regardless of their rank in the organization.

Last year's Phoenix wait time scandal showed us that there is a severe lack of accountability for VA officials.

The VA Office of Inspector General conduct made it clear that Congress must act.

That is why I have introduced the Ensuring Veteran Safety Through Accountability Act.

As soon as I became aware of the problems at Tomah, I directed committee staff to open an investigation into the problems of the facility.

On June 4, I was not present to vote on Senator Jeanne Shaheen's amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2016, amendment No. 1494 to H.R. 1735. I would have voted against this measure. Madam President, as well, had I…

Yesterday is over. And we're never going back.

I believe that someday China will be free. Someday, the people of China will be able to enjoy all of their God-given rights.

It is the efforts of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Congressman Smith and Senator Rubio, who speak up and take a stand on human rights that give me hope for the future.

My hope is that today's discussion is going to move the ball forward on building a dialogue between all the parties on fishery management.

We must find a way to continue the tradition of those whose livelihoods are dependent on the water and those who enjoy these natural treasures.

I have heard some people say, and it has not been my experience, but some people say people will manipulate the data.

How do we get more people to participate in it?

It is important we convey boating safety as Americans begin their summer plans and head to our coastal waters.

Finally, nearly 3 years ago, Congress passed the Billfish Conservation Act of 2012, which put in place important conservation measures prohibiting the sale of several threatened Pacific caught billfish in the United States.

I also hear a lot of growing concern among stakeholders, especially with the Gulf of Mexico, that NOAA is not providing sound data, leading to a general sense of agency mistrust.

Hearing held on May 20, 2015

Does not the fact that that, in and of itself, is considered subversive, tell us everything we need to know about that regime?

I think it is important to point out that--and I think Senator Menendez touched upon this--but, these programs--these were not weapons program, correct?

I would also put in the request for those documents.