JOSEPH A. HALL

We have absolute confidence that you are going to be able to do this. But it is a culture that has to be changed.

The morale of the 280,000 or so of your employees, and the morale of veterans, many who think VA means 'veterans' adversary' rather than 'veterans' advocate,' and have had too many problems with the bureaucracy, is essential.

The bureaucratic dynamic takes over. Someone is going to get promoted because they saved money.

One of the priorities that I hope we will succeed in the Subcommittee's work this term in addressing is to provide the presumptive service connection for PTSD.

I just want to say that it hurts my heart to hear the story that Mr. Taylor has told us. And from the very first day he hit this Congress, I intercepted him, and he has been one of my dearest friends. Never knowing that he would go through…

On the Blumenauer amendment, I rise to say that we will accept the amendment. The Acting CHAIRMAN (Mr. Putnam). Without objection, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I have never opposed Plano having a court. It is a huge city. It is a great city. It is a growing city. And as we move along with this 50-50 agreement and Plano grows, as it surely will, they will need more judges and more courts there. I…

Mr. Chairman, I think it makes sense, and the gentleman who offers the amendment is from Houston, Texas, which is a salient part of the energy thrust. And Texas being one of the 10 States that produces energy for the other 40 States thinks…

Texans cannot only think big, we can think little, too; and that is what we are doing.

Mr. Chairman, we have a great bill. We think that this amendment would help it. I support the bill whether we put the amendment on or not; but it seems to me that this just adds toxicological studies, which simply means in plain American…