Tim Walz

The House passed a bipartisan Claims Appeal Modernization Improvement Act.

It feels a little bit like me looking at a house that is on fire and saying, well, the drapes are nice in it.

You have done nothing but come to this Committee since your time here with solution based problem solving in an honorable way.

I am going to segue onto that. Keep in mind, and again, we need to talk candidly amongst ourselves when we look at voc rehab being cut 4.5, we see medical research being cut, but we see care in the community without a plan being there…

But they can stay at a later date. What I am saying is if we plussed up the VA side and it was equal access to what they are getting on the outside, would they choose the VA over the outside if access times were equal?

Budgets are far more than fiscal documents; they are a reflection of our values.

The budget fails to account for the demand on VA care when they are shifted over from other agencies and other programs.

I want to thank Mr. Bost and Ms. Esty for their leadership, Ms. Titus before her.

It shouldn't take congressional intervention to get veterans the help that they deserve.

We either continue the current system and live with these extraordinarily long waits.

Thank you to Chairman Roe for holding this hearing and for that commitment to move this forward.

Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to Ranking Member Smith, and members of the committee.

Once again, I would like to thank the chairman, the staff, and everyone who has been here. I think, of all the committees that are modeling the behavior of democracy, bipartisanship, and what our government stands for, the Veterans'…

May I inquire how much time I have remaining? I have two speakers to go. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Woodall). The gentleman from Minnesota has 7\1/2\ minutes remaining.

At this time it is my privilege to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), my good friend and also a good friend of veterans, the vice ranking member of the full Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Congressmen Walz and Emmer came to our facility after the union contacted them.

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Hawaii will be postponed. Amendment No. 12 Offered by Ms. Meng The Acting CHAIR. It is now…

I do not oppose this amendment. It is smart. I have seen how important employee exit surveys can be in facilitating and understanding how an organization can be improved, made more efficient, or take constructive criticism. It makes…

We must enable the VA to recruit and retain the most capable people to serve our Nation's veterans. We also know that one size does not fit all when considering an applicant's background and experience. If an individual has gained valuable…

I claim the time in opposition, even though I am not opposed to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Minnesota is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I have no further speakers and will be prepared to close after the gentleman is done. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Before I reserve the balance of my time, I would like to point out to the gentleman from Florida that he has a podiatrist right here in Dr. Wenstrup, so we can just solve the problem as we stand. I reserve the balance of my time.

Before I yield to the gentleman from Florida, I would like to point out, as a new Member bringing new vitality and new blood to this, how encouraging it is, both to me and, I would hope, to his constituents. Seeking out ways to serve…

I claim time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment and, in fact, I am enthusiastically supportive of the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Minnesota is recognized for 5 minutes. There…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Minnesota will be postponed. The Chair understands that amendment No. 3 will not be offered…