Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank Representatives Stivers and Takano for their sponsorship of this much needed bipartisan bill, which would expand, as you heard, coverage of Representative Stephen Lynch's Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act to newly hired healthcare veterans at the Veterans Health Administration. Approximately one-third of VA's new hires are veterans. It is no surprise that veterans who leave military service want to continue to serve this country and the American people. We are grateful that these brave men and women, many of whom are wounded themselves, choose to devote their civilian careers to taking care of their fellow wounded warriors. The bill would provide newly hired doctors, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, optometrists, and chiropractors at the VHA who have service-connected disabilities with 104 hours of sick leave during their first year of employment to take care of their medical conditions. This is a very good bill that I urge my colleagues to support, and I reserve the balance of my time.”