Barbara Mikulski: “I don't know what we are going to do in the fall. I don't know what we are going to do in the Pentagon budget. I don't…”

“I don't know what we are going to do in the fall. I don't know what we are going to do in the Pentagon budget. I don't know what we are going to do on Labor-HHS appropriations related to busting the caps. I do know what we have done on VA-HUD. We have met the needs of America's veterans. We have done it in very important areas, from actual care to long-term care, to recruiting new personnel, to creating educational opportunities, to improving our cemeteries and also improving both major and minor construction. Make no mistake: When we vote on this bill, I need my colleagues to be clear. It is not, are you for or against the veterans? That would pass 100 to nothing. Of course we are for our veterans. It is not, are you for or against veterans health care? We, of course, are for veterans health care. That is why we worked so hard on this committee to add $1 billion more, $400 million over what the President initially thought he needed. This vote is, are you or are you not going to use the VA-HUD bill to break the budget caps.”