Tim Walz

Ending the disability claims backlog is of the utmost importance to veterans and their families.

I wish the distinguished Whip would have waited for answers today, and I do bristle a bit at the idea of indifference.

I would like to know a name of which person in the VA was indifferent because I think to paint with a broad brush the number of people at VA that are out there doing a good job.

Your legislation simply authorizes them to be honored as 'veterans of the Armed Forces' but prohibits the award of any new benefit.

I think it bodes well for the future on this. I am optimistic, as I said.

What are the factors do you think in addition to what the Forest Service is doing that are leading to those changes?

Again, I am really pleased to hear you talking about this commitment on moving towards biofuels.

I am very grateful and proud to be serving with you.

We can look to the future on biomass and value-added products, at the same time keeping that legacy of outdoor usage.

I am optimistic, as I said. Again, this is a legacy that is the envy of the world.

I can tell you from being around here, that is an unusual and a very appreciated gesture and it shows his concern.

Congratulations on assuming this. You are the right person for this job, and I am grateful.

Well, I am grateful for that, and our public land legacy is the envy of the world, so I appreciate the work you are doing, and I yield back.

I am really pleased to hear you talking about this commitment on moving towards biofuels.

My focus is to ensure that Federal funding for state and private forestry is well-spent.

I have been told that sequester is Latin for idiotic governance, and it may be true.

The thing I find most interesting is that the forest and timber industry provides about $9 billion in economic impact to the state.

I look forward to a productive discussion on how we can be certain the Forest Service is doing everything within reason to produce a stronger rural America.

I would kind of like to hear what you think.

You can have your cake and eat it too if we do it right in terms of managing these resources.

It has been obvious since you came to Congress, you have been a champion of rural issues, rural America, and done it in a positive, visionary way.

A diverse rural economy is the strongest hedge we have against economic downturn and natural disaster.

Thank you not just for being a friend of agriculture but being a friend of rural America.

If you want a truly interoperable system, both streamlining data and protecting the patient, that is going to be a critical component too.

While I am disappointed in how some of this rolled out, I also think putting it in the context of where the private sector is at on this.