Steve Buyer: “in 13 years I have seen a lot of amendments in subcommittee and in full committee and on the House floor. This one is a…”

“in 13 years I have seen a lot of amendments in subcommittee and in full committee and on the House floor. This one is a bit peculiar. I do not even, frankly, know what the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) is trying to say. I think it is perhaps being used just so he can come to the floor and speak, I suppose. No moneys can be used in contravention of the OMB circular that states that in testimony before congressional committee and committee before Members of Congress the witnesses give frank and complete answers to all questions. Man, blow me away today. I want to share with my colleagues with regard to the Veterans Administration. Let me give a record as I understand it from testimony and actions that have occurred with reference to the 2005 budget. On April 5 of 2005, a letter to Senator Hutchison, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, stating that the VA, as part of good management, prudently uses reserve funding whenever trends indicate the need to refocus priorities, and the Secretary before the full committee on the House Veterans Affairs testified about that today. On April 7 of 2005, Dr. Perlin testified to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee at his confirmation hearing that reserve funds were being used to meet operational needs in 2005. On April 12 of 2005, Dr.…”