Johnny Isakson

Experience is a great teacher.

It is time that instead of playing defense against us or trying to react to the concerns of our constituents that you all were proactive.

These daily denials are disrespectful, costly, and too often heartbreaking.

Veteran's benefits are earned through service and sacrifice in the defense of this great Nation and are not 'entitlements' or 'social welfare' programs.

No servicemember should face this stark discrimination at a time when they need support the most.

Thank you for your testimony and your kind comments about WIOA. I am glad we finally were able to get that done.

So, out of no discourtesy to you, but out of respect for the Committee jurisdiction, I told the Armed Services Committee that we would maintain our jurisdiction and your bill will come up at the same time Senator Ayotte's bill comes up in…

It is time to keep this promise.

FRA will oppose any across-the-board budget driven cuts that lumps veteran's programs with unrelated civilian programs.

I think it is about time that we--the courts are there--our Constitution has three branches of government.

They are grandfathered in.

I urge you all--I appreciate very much the Chairman's leadership and working with Senator McCaskill--to pass this legislation to make sure that individuals who perpetrated the wait list fraud are held fully accountable and that they pay…

The State is lucky to have two great women leading them.

I want to make sure we understand or I understand this.

We are going to make Veterans Choice work. It is not an option that it might work; if it does not work, we will think of something else.

In this mission, failure is not an option.

What we are trying to do is to streamline that part of the process.

Efficiency is always less expensive, and that is more efficient, it seems like to me.

I have ordered GAO to do a study of surplus property and that which would be liquidatable to try and find a way to raise money to go to Veterans Choice.

I think the veteran needs to have it simpler to understand, too.

If I am a veteran and I am more than 40 miles from a clinic and I have got my card, can I automatically call TriWest and make an appointment?

We are not just hoping it is going to be over one day. We are going to make it happen one way or another.

I would hope what all of you would do is work together to find some ways to simplify the communication mechanism.

The American Legion applauds the Senate for unanimously passing an amendment reminding the Department of Veterans Affairs they have the obligation to provide non-VA care.

We need to address this situation to complete the project, but it cannot be done in effect at the sacrifice of other veterans.