Tim Walz

I never get the feeling from my constituents that they're not willing to make sure we lay our veterans to rest.

I always tell the story of when I went out to Walter Reed and visited one of our wounded warriors.

Often with my colleagues, they hear me talk about southern Minnesota and I can see them roll their eyes.

The sole purpose of honoring that commitment that our servicemembers have made in making sure that we, as a nation, a grateful nation, follow through with everything from the benefits and the health care to that dignified burial, that says…

I wish people could actually watch how we do things in the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

It is my hope that by bringing all the parties together here today, we can make progress in evaluating the Veterans' Cemetery Grants Program and ultimately to serve the needs of our veterans as best we can.

I look forward to hearing more from the citizens of Fillmore County as well as the VA in today's testimony.

We do not want them to be medicated with only drugs. We want them to get better.

If there is one veteran not being served on time that is one too many.

This issue of mental health parity and mental health care is absolutely fundamental.

I mean, I am just wondering if there comes a diminishing return or if this is a program that should be exponentially be able to grow, to assume that.

Care of our warriors is our top priority, whatever it takes.

If you leave with anything, leave with the faith that although messy and ugly and, as Churchill said, the worst form of government ever, as democracy is, but better than every other one.

I think it is being targeted, laser focused on that while moving the things we can.

This perception that you know is real, that you guys are just trying to delay these until they die, or you are told to kick them back and not approve them, that causes so much tension in this.

I think a fix on this--and I throw this out. I maybe should have asked the Colonel when he was up here from the state perspective a little more. I am a big fan of these county veteran service officers having more power to help push these…

We need those few good men and women when they come back to go to the VA if they need the care.

Older veterans, we all lived through this where you wouldn't go to a VA hospital because you were afraid of the care you would get.

Thank you each for being here. More importantly, thank you for choosing to serve our veterans.

It is absolutely ludicrous that we don't have that seamless.

In a time of economic uncertainty, we have to be very pointed in how we are doing this.

That is the way it should be done.

There is absolutely no difference culturally in the care of our veterans.

Jon is trying to get it right. He chose to be there, and since day one has decided that first and foremost the care of our veterans trumps everything else.

I always say this to our friends from the VA. I am your staunchest supporter, but I will be your harshest critic, because if one veteran falls through the crack, it is one too many.