Barbara Mikulski: “This is a strong conference report, and I believe it is one which will be signed by the President of the United States.…”

“This is a strong conference report, and I believe it is one which will be signed by the President of the United States. And why? Because it meets the day-to-day needs of the American people as well as the long-range needs of the United States of America. It provides a safety net for our seniors. It gets behind our kids. It invests in science and technology and makes our world safer. It meets compelling human needs and at the same time makes public investments in Federal Laboratories that will come up with the new ideas for the new products, for the new jobs, for the 21st century. Let's talk about a safety net for seniors. We have often said to our veterans that we are a grateful nation for the sacrifice that they have made in the wars, and many of them bear the permanent wounds of war. But I believe the way a grateful nation expresses its gratitude is not with words but with deeds. That is why I am so pleased that we are providing in the VA medical care account $17.3 billion to meet that need.”