Sanford Bishop: “The bulk of the request of the increase for the General Administration was intended for the establishment of the…”

“The bulk of the request of the increase for the General Administration was intended for the establishment of the Veterans Experience Office. Up until now, the Veterans Experience Office's activities have been funded through the Office of Enterprise Integration. However, the FY 2017 budget proposes to make the Veterans Experience Office a standalone office within the General Administration and requests $72.6 million in funding and 204 full-time equivalents via direct budget authority. While we all support the Secretary's efforts to improve the way the VA interacts with the veterans, we had doubts about the wisdom of establishing a large, new office with regional staffing at this late date in the administration. It was decided not to include this funding. However, there is nothing in the bill that prevents the Secretary from continuing to fund the office in the way that he did in the previous fiscal year. Conversely, the amendment before us will prevent this office from being funded, period. I believe that the amendment is a bridge too far. While I don't support making the Veterans Experience Office a free- standing office, I also don't support taking the Secretary's flexibility away either. I believe that the bill is the right approach. I urge Members to oppose the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.”