On the recordMay 19, 2016
Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support my VA spending bill to final passage. It is a very bipartisan bill. I also would like to thank my ranking Democratic member, Senator Jon Tester of Montana, who has been a great partner. We have worked with all Senators on both sides of the aisle to include their priorities and have worked through dozens of amendments. We include more than two dozen amendments in this bill. The bill provides record funding for our veterans' health care, protects whistleblowers, includes opioid safety, and also has the RAID Act to clean up the VA so that cockroaches are not in the VA kitchens and dining facilities. This bill also adds 100 staff to the IG's office and combats veteran homelessness. It requires better screening of VA doctors so they can't switch from State to State. The bill also increases medical research and adds money for health care for our veterans. I thank the subcommittee staff for doing outstanding work this year, and that includes Tina Evans, Chad Schulken, Michael Bain, Robert Henke, D'Ann Lettieri, Patrick Magnuson, and Carlos Elias. The bottom line: This bill does right by our troops and does right by our veterans. I thank my Senate colleagues and urge its rapid adoption.





