Tim Walz

I kind of think that I agree with where Dr. Abraham was talking about you have a job to do, we hired you to do it. The public hired us to do a job, too.

This is not going to be fixed by Congress, it is not going to be fixed just by the administration, it is going to be fixed by citizens demanding and using our best and brightest to figure out a way to do this.

Your decision is going to be either to deal with that or deny the claims. And I think all of us here to recognize we are part of this.

I think people here need to recognize last week this Congress allowed the Agent Orange Act to expire.

USDA has done an admirable job thus far in their response.

This outbreak places both a financial and emotional strain on the producers in harm's way.

Farmers have long known that the financial health of our agricultural sector is beholden to certain external factors.

I think it is important to have these hearings.

I thank the Chairman first of all for his passion and his lifelong commitment to human rights.

I think each of these pieces of legislation provide the VA opportunities to partner and to do things and continue to build on things that are working right.

I think it is really important that this committee, while we simultaneously hold people accountable for the failings that are unacceptable, we also provide alternatives, provide solutions.

I would be honored and appreciative if I could.

I have appealed to their sense of duty, I have appealed to their sense of honor and now I may turn to shaming them if they don't do this one this time, because this is very frustrating.

Again, I have no further speakers on my side. I can't stress enough my thanks for working this out. It was, at times, a somewhat delicate situation, but leadership from my friends on the Republican side, bringing in folks, all engaged…

I would like to welcome all our witnesses here today, and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to engage in this and help us understand.

We need to have that discussion to figure out how do we best leverage both the private sector, the public sector, our promises to our veterans, get quality care, and do it in the most cost-effective manner.

Veterans' care is a zero-sum proposition. If one veteran doesn't receive the care that they are entitled to and the best quality, then it is a failure.

Additionally, it is essential that any changes to the export inspections regime do not upset the existing process, which is both efficient and meets the needs of growers, producers, and distributors, as well as customers.

As the House Committee on Agriculture considers reauthorization of expiring provisions of the United States Grain Standards Act (GSA) in the coming weeks, we respectfully request that any legislation considered by the Committee maintains…

Well, again, I thank the Chairman and our witnesses.

I would also make the case that I do think we need to learn from what happened in Washington, but I would caution us not to upset a very good and functional system over that incident.

The Washington State Delegation, in a bipartisan manner, unanimously sent a letter and said the system works, don't mess up the system, just address it so that we have a safeguard in there in case this situation arises.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you all for your testimony.

It must be the gold standard as it has always been.

I fully expect this cross-section of views will promote a vigorous debate, and that is what we are here to do.