My thoughts, our thoughts, are with the families of the 15 Marines and one sailor who lost their lives in service to our country.

Long-term, I think we need to recognize we can't continue to rely entirely on fossil fuels.

I have to say that I am astounded that the Navy, upon whose assessments we rely in making decisions...

This bill would extend the requirement for the VA to provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities through December 31, 2018.

Do you feel pretty confident that we will not let this program lapse? Because otherwise you have to have a Plan B.

The 350 veterans in Hawaii, that is really a large number of veterans who would be impacted.

We must keep our commitment to these veterans, which is why I am grateful to the VA and the veterans service organizations here today for their testimony in support of the bill.

I am glad that the VA is supportive as well as the veterans organizations across the country, because we have a lot of veterans who need long-term care, and we want to keep those facilities supported.

I think it is important, since the need is great, that the kind of contracts you have will enable the Indian Health Services and the Native Hawaiian Health Services to continue to be a part of the providing of services.

I would like to thank Senators Collins, King, and Markey for their close sponsorship of S. 683, my Keeping Our Commitment to Disabled Veterans Act, which would ensure coverage for around 350 veterans in Hawaii, some 20,000 veterans across…

we are all one diagnosis away from having a serious illness. Lots of us believe that getting a serious illness is something that happens to other people. I was one of them. My moment of reckoning came 2 months ago. During a routine…

earlier this month, the Senate passed by voice vote the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017. I recognize this bill is the result of a bipartisan compromise, and I commend Senator Tester…