Johnny Isakson

I appreciate the opportunity to commend to the Foreign Relations Committee and the United States Senate, Carrie Hessler Radelet.

I trust and verify that Rose Gottemoeller is exactly the right person the United States of America needs at this time.

Senator Isakson, who is now in the Finance Committee, is passionate and determined to help this happen.

I look forward to seeing her as an adversary to some of the tougher leaders around the world that she will be dealing with at the United Nations because I am confident that the same passion she has for human rights she has for this…

I commend her to you highly, and I look forward to seeing her confirmed in short order.

Last, I am the Republican designee from the United States Senate to the United Nations for this session of Congress.

I appreciate her asking me to introduce her today, and I will just share a few thoughts additional to those Senator Chambliss said.

This is a very serious situation which we are about to discuss, and it is very important that both sides of the story be told.

I appreciate the leadership of the distinguished former Governor. Knowing him as well as I do, he is a States rights advocate and this is a States rights issue and we are here to protect the rights of our States.

It would be a great law to say that, upon reaching the age of 18, every foster child in America had to read your story because you are a role model and a mentor by the way you have lived your life, and you are to be commended for doing…

It is better to build boys than mend men.

I want you, in this meeting, to tell me that you will do everything you can to not perpetrate a rule regarding investment in savings and retirement.

I was concerned because I thought that the Magner was an undesirable factual context in which to consider disparate impact.

I have legislation with Ms. Landreiu and some others to amend that, because I think we need to revisit that medical loss ratio rule and see what effect it actually has on people getting credible information from people who make a living…

The Veterans Benefits Management System request is for $155 million in this year's budget. Is that right?

I just wanted to say thank you to the President and to you because I know your request had to have something to do with that.

I want to follow up just a second on what Senator Johanns was talking about on leases.

What you said was what I hoped the answer was to the question.

We should never shortchange those benefits, or look at it as an efficiency or a savings.

Clearly, that effort should have begun a decade ago, or longer, and not just 4 years ago.

I remain concerned that the VA has hired just 47 clinicians in the 2 months prior to that hearing.

I believe that this year's budget request... reflects a strong commitment by this Administration to provide veterans and their families with the care and benefits they deserve.

I never want a veteran's negative experience with the claims system to prevent him or her from seeking mental health care.

VA has set ambitious goals, put forward a plan and has been working hard to transform the system.

I share that concern.