On the recordJune 22, 2016
I thank Senator Blumenthal for his kind remarks and his steadfast, hard work on developing this legislation over the last 18 months. I thank all the members of the Committee, everyone who is a cosponsor of this bill. I thank the 44 Members of the Senate who have already cosponsored it and ask the remaining 56 to consider being a part of it. We owe our veterans no less than the absolute commitment that matches the commitment they made to us. It is time they had accountability for the benefits they have earned, the health care they deserve, and a VA that means what it says when it tells them it is going to take care of the veterans of the United States. I thank the Chair for giving us the time to bring out these issues today. I urge all our Members to contact either Senator Blumenthal or the committee staff or me if they have questions as we move forward before July 4 to make the Veterans First Act a reality, and once and for all put our veterans first, as always they should be and always they will be. With that, I yield back the remainder of my time. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
