We are grateful to the Members of Congress who signed onto a letter circulated by Congressmen Tim Walz and Steve King.

I have often said that I am the strongest supporter of the VA and, because of that, I will be the strongest critic.

I hope that this hearing will demonstrate the steps that the VA has taken to make bonuses about rewarding excellence, not about helping friends or family.

I think the question here is making sure that bonuses are paid based on performance, not on standard or set procedure, on autopilot.

This is an important and critical step in ensuring proper use of resources, making sure we reduce fraud, waste, and abuse;

However, we need mechanisms that work, not mechanisms that simply add heavy-handed regulation to low-risk commodities.

I do have concerns about certain provisions in H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. It is important that Congress get it right.

As we consider this legislation, I will be evaluating this and any other proposal on three key principles: One, does the legislation make food safer? Two, does the legislation hold the regulator accountable? And three, does the legislation…

Climate change is real and it is a serious problem.

climate change is real, and is a serious problem.

We have an obligation to our children to address this problem, to set an example for the world.