Steve Buyer

And we recognize you, Michael Bilirakis, because your presence here was significant. You heard a very personal admission on behalf of the chairman. And I think all of us on the committee could say the very same thing that the chairman had…

I would ask all colleagues to support H.R. 4918, a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami, Florida, as the ``Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.'' I want to thank my colleague Dr…

House Resolution 1291 recognizes the contributions of the American GI Forum on its 60th anniversary. Mr. Speaker, the work of the founder of the American GI Forum, Dr. Hector Garcia, is one that shows the determination of the American…

What I object to is the fact that the chairman of the committee must not care about the increased cost of energy prices on veterans in America. He must not care, Mr. Speaker, because he's so concerned that he wants to raise a point of…

I rise in support of H.R. 4289, a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as the ``Euripides Rubio Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.'' I commend my colleague Mr. Fortuno of…

I rise in support of S. 1692, a measure to grant a Federal charter to the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA). Though the Korean War is sometimes referred to as the ``Forgotten War,'' it is among the most significant events of the 20th…

In the fall of 2005, I had the House Veterans' Affairs Committee track OIF and OEF dental costs in the VA. In the fall of 2006, I requested the Army to report on and document Army reserve component dental demobilization treatment costs…

H.R. 5554, as amended, the Justin Bailey Veterans Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008, would amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to veterans from the Department…

As all of us get to know Sam, and we see him daily, Sam's voice gives meaning to many who were held as prisoner and allows us to have a deeper appreciation of what it means to lose your liberty. And what Sam Johnson has been able to teach…

Mr. Rodriguez, when you go back to Texas over the Memorial Day break, I want you to share with your good friends in Deep South Texas how much I enjoyed the visit and their tequila. I don't know what it is about tequila that makes you…

I would like everyone to know that we all enjoyed Julia very much. But I want you to know this, what just happened in the well is Andre responded to the Speaker with two words that would make Julia very proud. His first two words as a new…

I support the Senate-passed version of the mental health parity legislation. It was carefully crafted between mental health groups and business groups. And everyone should note that not all of the mental advocacy groups support this House…

I want to thank some of my colleagues for their vision back in 2003. They recognized that Congress does a good job talking about Medicare and the concerns about the future, but they realize that very few are very committed to addressing…

I want all of our colleagues to know that Mr. Filner and I sat down. We had a good lunch. We had very good substantive discussions about a way forward, and we've come to the floor with this bill in a bipartisan manner. We both recognize as…

with the passing of Congressman Hyde, the country lost a true patriot who was deeply dedicated to the American people. He had a distinguished career in public service, beginning with his time in the Navy during World War II, followed by…

I am very concerned about a highly controversial provision that allows for commercial importation of prescription drugs from any country, regardless of the safety of their prescription drug supply, and includes no safety mechanisms to…

I don't consider this a high-water mark for Congress in the 15 years I've been here. I don't consider it a high-water mark because I'm very disappointed in us, in how we have conducted ourselves with regard to our process, in how we have…

It is disappointing that the objection was so loud and clear. I do remember coming here in the minority, and at the time it was referred to as the Imperial Congress. It has not taken you very long to get back to where you were. That is…

this amendment is either ill-conceived or politically conceived in that the Deputy Secretary is the gentleman who came to the committee to testify, and that was by agreement at the committee. So to say that the administration sent someone…

I was sitting here, and I enjoyed the comments of the Chair of the subcommittee, Mr. Edwards, and the comments of Mr. Wicker, and then I was disturbed by the comments of Mr. Obey. Mr. Chairman, what I would say is he didn't go back far…

Good management of the resources and accountability is what's essential. So when the chairman just spoke in the well and said, well, we don't have the money, that's not entirely correct because the GAO came back in 2005 and 2006 and said…

the only thing I would note, as I listened to the Speaker speak in the well, is that when the Republicans presented their budget proposal as an alternative, we spent $8 billion more than the majority in the 10-year scope, actually in the…

I would like to thank Mr. Michaud because he did his committee work. He did his committee work because we brought a bill to the floor. Yes, under suspension, Mr. Filner, but he did his committee work. He filed a report which allowed us to…

I think by silence, by omission, the chairman just spoke, and how disappointed I am that veterans, that he just said that he wanted to come to the floor, that he was going to take this moment as a thank-you to veterans and all they do; yet…

So the chairman would raise an issue of germaneness rather than addressing the issue of how we honor the men and women who serve this country. That is disappointing. This is a Medal of Honor winner from the Korean War in which we tried to…