Tim Walz

I want to hear--I am interested to hear the rationale behind this move, because it is my understanding that the law dictates that there be a separate account.

It is critical that our understanding from the budget agreement be upheld.

I am. And I don't deny and I think there is validity in this because the issue is it is not the false choice of privatization versus VA itself; it is a hybrid model of this.

This place needs you. It needs the type of person that you are.

You have served veterans well. You have always been there in a bipartisan way.

Nobody in the veterans community is saying that. Nobody wants it.

There is an ideological belief and it is my belief right now that is dominating, certainly coming out of the White House that the idea is that we can go totally to the private sector care, no need for the VA.

the best care they get is from the VA. It might be hard to get it. They might have to wait a while, but they get excellent care at the VA.

Opening Statement of Walz, Hon. Tim

But the understanding is if this money is cycled away, it drains off and will kill the VA as that institution.

I want to be very clear that thanks to you and to this committee, fair and appropriate appropriations that let us try and tackle the things that we are obligated to do have been unprecedented.

So, this idea that it is cheaper, it is quicker and it is better in the private sector, there is no data to support that.

it is imperative that we discuss some critical issues, including the Choice Program, and the state of the VA's electronic health records.

Our job is to provide quality care that was promised and must be delivered to our veterans.

The appropriations have continued to increase for our warriors at a time of war.

If the gentleman has no further speakers, I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Long Island--he clearly understands this issue--for his passionate work on this, and we are grateful for it. I, too…

I fully support Ranking Member Kuster's call for a hearing or whatever is necessary on the leadership failures in New England, Capital Region, and Desert Pacific Regions.

In order to deliver on promises that we have made to veterans in regard to accessibility and quality of care, we must ensure VA has every resource necessary to the development of this new system.

We need to exercise our oversight authority, which this Subcommittee has proven up to that task.

I want to know and praise the dedicated workers and providers who did ensure that no patients were harmed despite incompetent leadership and supply chain failures at the hospital.

We continue to exercise one of our most important functions, oversight.

No one disagrees up here, the Chairman's commitment to fixing Blue Water Navy is second to nobody in this country.

I want to be absolutely clear. What distinguishes this Committee I think from any other, and it has been noted, is our ability to focus together on the issues that matter.

Choice is good, I have always supported it.

A budget reflects the President's priorities.