Johnny Isakson

There is a point at which you run out of those benefits when you are talking about so much of your income being paid in taxation.

We are never going to have the lowest tax rate in the world.

Are we at the point where we really have to take a look at our competitiveness as a Nation and look specifically at the tax code to make that differential more fair?

That tax rate that a business pays is going to have the greatest effect on the middle class.

We thank Senator Tester for his leadership on this bill.

We just dedicated in Atlanta, thanks to the gift of Bernie Marcus, the largest center dedicated to veterans that I know of anywhere in the country.

I think Senator Tester would agree with the same thing

We thank bipartisan Members of this Committee for critical legislation for Physician Assistant (PA) Workforce issues before you today in the VA System

We are going to find common ground in the next few months and get a Choice bill that works for everybody.

There is a visible improvement in the VA's responsiveness

The American Legion wants to thank Senator's Isakson, Tester, and Crapo for taking the lead in drafting these three bills.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I want to thank the Members of the Committee for their active engagement so far this year.

I intend, as one Member of the Committee in anticipation on what we do to lead up to the completion of the improvement in Choice, to see to it that you do have the flexibility and the time, and that we never diminish the role of the…

I call this meeting of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to order.

Thank you very much, Senator Strange, Senator Inhofe, and to all the members who came and gave their time.

Join me in support of legislation that will fill urgent needs and help the VA keep its covenant with our Nation's heroes.

I thank the distinguished President pro tempore of the Senate, the chairman of the committee. I am honored to take that 5 minutes.

In 16 years of dealing with trade as a member of the Senate and the House, I have seen consistently where an inability to or sending the signal you are not going to enforce trade agreements or you are not going to play rough--you get taken…

I think Congress should be involved. I think a new AUMF does make a lot of difference.

Your tenacity will be noted. You have done a great job of pushing on this bill for a long period of time.

Your words are heard. We appreciate your input. We look forward to working with you toward providing the benefits that are earned and deserved for our veterans.

It is not hard to pass benefits. It is hell to take them back.

I appreciate Senator Heller bringing up the question about IU.

We are not raising any expenditure to the taxpayer. We are just trying to meet our obligation to our veterans.