But it should not take legislation to force the VA to act.

These steps are too small; they are too incremental, they lack the urgency.

I cannot understand that at all.

We have to be determined, we have to work together.

I think we can all agree that adequate exams, if one was requested, are critical to correctly process these claims.

I want to remind the witnesses that your complete written statement will be entered into the hearing record.

It should go without saying that we have a duty to take care of the men and women who have been wounded while serving in our military.

I have an amendment at the desk. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 2, line 20, after ``individuals'', insert ``, including individuals displaced or relocated from a public…

Prescription opioids and heroin addiction are ravaging our Nation, causing heartache and pain for millions of American families, and destroying our communities. This is no secret. In my own home State of Illinois, opioids contribute to…

P.L. 83-566 gives us the ability to work with those private landowners but at the same time work with those leaders in local communities who also are seeing issues.

June is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that leads to memory loss and other challenges in brain and physical function. Ultimately, it is fatal. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's…

What do we use through the VA to show either success or failure as we treat post-traumatic stress syndrome patients?

I think that the system has to be set up in a certain way that you have to go through these steps.

So as you went through the process of when you first got your writing, do you feel like the VA handled that correctly or incorrectly at the time?

I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 2288, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, as amended. The legislation is a product of hard work between…

Every day law enforcement officers around this country protect our families from harm and keep peace and promote the cause of justice. As a former first responder myself, I am proud to support these heroes, especially those who have paid…

Would you agree that USDA could do more to ensure that the Buy American requirements are strengthened?

It should have been in the omnibus bill. And just because you don't represent cotton farmers in Michigan and Vermont, there is no reason for you to have taken them hostage to get something that you knew would never work, and that was a…

If there is anything we can do, I commit to being a serious advocate for American agriculture.

the lack of labor force is the number one most pressing issue that they are facing right now, and it is an emergency situation.

I thank my friend for yielding. As we speak, communities in southern Illinois are contending with rising flood waters. While we may not be able to prevent the water rising, there is a lot that we can do to help our communities rebuild…

There are no anticipated additional costs for these changes.

If we don't do something, it is going to be 10 years, and that is just not right and we know it.

I think this is one of the most important pieces of legislation, certainly at the VA that I have dealt with since I have been in the Congress.

one of the beauties of Chairman Bost's opt-in language is that it will allow the VA to adjust as necessary.