John Bel Edwards: “this bill sends a clear message to America's service men and women, their families and their veterans that a grateful…”

“this bill sends a clear message to America's service men and women, their families and their veterans that a grateful Nation deeply respects their service and sacrifice, provides the largest increase in VA health care funding in the 77-year history of the VA. The bill also provides funds to hire 1,800 new VA claims processors to reduce the serious backlog of benefits claims and reduce the time to process them. On the military construction side, we increased $4.37 billion for BRAC, military construction and family housing, a 29 percent increase over last year. I want to salute Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Obey for making veterans and support of our military families the highest of priorities in the new Congress. Millions of America's veterans and military families will receive better health care and have a better quality of life because of their dedication to them. I want to thank the majority subcommittee staff, an outstanding staff, the best anybody would have a right to work with, Carol Murphy, Tim Peterson, Walter Hearne, Donna Shahbaz and Mary Arnold, the outstanding minority subcommittee staff, Liz Dawson, Dena Baron, and my staffer, John Conger. I hope to offer a special note to the son of a distinguished Army soldier, Rob Nabors, Chief Clerk of the Appropriations Committee. Because of Mr. Nabors' good judgment, professionalism, calm demeanor and dedication, America's veterans and our military will benefit not just this year but for decades to come.”