On the recordApril 4, 2025
Madam President, I rise today to talk about the threats to the VA Administration and to our veterans, all in the name of finding $6 trillion in the couch cushions for President Trump's tax plan. I come to this very openly because of my background. I am a former CIA officer and Pentagon official. I did three tours in Iraq alongside the military. I spent my entire professional life before coming to elected office serving in the sorts of jobs that had me working on an hourly basis with the military. I served in the House and served on the Veterans' Affairs Committee there and serve on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. What I am concerned about right now is that in this rush to cut everything for the sake of cutting, we are going to affect the very people that should be treated as nonpartisan. It shouldn't be a partisan issue to serve our veterans, who have risked their lives, put themselves in danger, and come home with the express understanding that their Nation owed them a debt. What we have seen so far is deeply disturbing. Secretary Collins, who is someone I served with in the House of Representatives, has already cut 2,400 employees from the VA. Now, look, everyone has the opportunity to go after waste, fraud, and abuse. I served in places like the Pentagon.…
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