Mike Bost

But it really looks like you don't know what you are doing, or you are just trying to force an idea or an agenda that is detrimental to those people who we represent, because you can't give answers.

But yet you could not answer the questions that the chairman asked a while ago, and that is the problem that we deal with, with our farmers and other people.

It is no wonder that people around the this Nation, especially those trying to feed and provide for the food and fiber that this Nation needs, just doesn't trust Government at all.

Farmers in deep, southern Illinois where I live and I represent are tired of the Federal Government, by the way, overregulating the waters to advance Biden's radical green agenda.

Mr. Garcia, I am holding you personally accountable for this, personally accountable for this.

In order to best serve veterans, the VA Secretary must have the authority to quickly and fairly remove, demote, or suspend bad employees who are undermining the quality of services that our veterans have earned.

I will always protect the veteran over a bureaucrat. Always know that.

I have been investigating a situation in Southern California where an incredibly problematic employee could not be removed, by the way he is a GS-7, under traditional authorities.

The VA's position then is that we do not need or want the authorities in Section 714, 38, right? You do not need or want them.

Maybe you can explain since you gave those dates. Can you explain to me why there is such a huge hit dip in your disciplinary actions before the VA had passed the Accountability Act and now after they quit using it?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Waye, what evidence do you have to prove that VA's current availability authorities are sufficient to hold employees accountable for misconduct or poor performance?

We cannot afford to backslide and wait for the same tragedies that occurred in Phoenix VA hospital to repeat themselves before we act.

The law started moving the needle. The 2017 Accountability Act led to a 50 percent increase in removal actions.

We gave the VA Secretary more power to remove, demote, and suspend any VA employee for poor performance or misconduct.

Congress was united in this because veterans and the American people were fed up with bad VA employees not being held accountable.

I have been in Congress for not as long as some, but I have been around for a while.

I am concerned of the level of hostility the VA has shown toward private businesses - many of them Veteran-owned.

Congress must make sure the VA does its job for Veterans and those who want to assist them by improving the accreditation application process.

Veterans should be allowed to choose whatever option they decide to be in their best interest - filing on their own, going through a VSO, or through a private business.

I'm encouraged to hear of the ongoing negotiations among Members of the Senate VA committee to build off the PLUS Act and draft their own version.

Earlier this year, I introduced the PLUS for Veterans Act - H.R. 1822 - along with Lou Correa of California and my fellow committee member, Nancy Mace of South Carolina.

I encourage the Committee to now look at the Federal level at legislation to expand what has been a successful program now statewide.

Proudly, I stood with veterans from across the community to say that it is unacceptable that we would lose this facility.

All of us owe a debt to those men and women who served and those who continue to serve our country.

Achieving real success for the men and women who raise their right hand and serve our Nation is not a mission that can be done alone.