Political Quotes

“I rise today on behalf of the 470,000 Maryland veterans in order to thank my colleagues for making veterans health care a priority by passing S. 2450, the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014. I specifically applaud the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Sanders, and Senator John McCain for developing this bipartisan agreement and demonstrating to the Nation that the Congress can work together to meet our greatest challenges. I want to thank President Obama and Acting Secretary Gibson for taking preliminary action and holding senior Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, leadership accountable. Now the hard work begins of renewing and meeting our commitments to our veterans, who have sacrificed so much for our Nation. I support this bill's efforts to provide immediate authority to refer veterans to non-VA care and its provisions addressing commonsense long-term reform. Much of the treatment our veterans need is already provided in world-class facilities that are closer to their homes than the nearest VA Hospital, and they stand ready to support them today. I am concerned that the expedited firing provision for Senior Executive Service employees creates a separate process for VA staff employee. Let me be clear: Anyone guilty of fraud, malfeasance or criminal negligence must be held accountable. But current law and Office of Personnel Management policy provide measures to address such acts.…”