Angie Craig: “our veterans deserve all a grateful nation can give them. Over the last 6 years we have increased the Veterans budget by…”

“our veterans deserve all a grateful nation can give them. Over the last 6 years we have increased the Veterans budget by over $3 billion a year. Although the Senator from Michigan is right about the dustup this year, we still did it because America is grateful for those who serve in harm's way. While all veterans are entitled, should we start a new entitlement program, one that is now out of control, that we cannot monitor on a yearly basis as we do through the appropriating process and the authorizing process? The Senator is proposing a new entitlement program. But she is also saying something else. She is not saying those who served is the baseline of the formula. She is saying those who are entitled. And there is a very real difference between those who are entitled and eligible versus those who seek service because of need. We pay for those who seek service based on their eligibility. We do not create a new entitlement program. Ask yourselves, do you want to create a new entitlement program or do you want to do what we are doing now, providing the necessary resources on an annual basis to meet the needs of America's veterans? I ask Members to vote no. Do not waive the Budget Act. Do not create a new entitlement program and basically take it out of the hands of the Congress and put it in the hands of the VA. That is not what I think our veterans would want us to do. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion to waive the Budget Act.…”