I want to, again, thank the chairman. This is not an attempt to derail the reforms. It is an attempt to try to get something passed and done immediately. I certainly welcome the chairman's advice, guidance, suggestions on ways that we can…

I also want to thank you, and I think, Dr. Schlichting, you are doing a very good job of stressing this, trying to remove this simplistic argument of public versus private sector.

I remember ten years ago asking why we did a quadrennial defense review, with an understanding that the world of 1986 looks entirely different than the world of 2016.

I represent the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota too, and they are like many of you, and they will say there is different models.

I think our priority here is to make sure all our veterans get the care that they have earned.

The availability of credit is of paramount importance to the success of farm country, and we learned this lesson the hard way. Over a century ago, our farm forbearers faced a credit crunch that threatened the viability of the industry. As…

I believe that the U.S. must remain committed to defending human rights and personal freedoms both within the U.S. and abroad. As our country continues to advance U.S.-China relations, we must never forget the people of Tibet. Restrictions…

It's hard to get people--and I'm going to focus on the contracting and the skill set of the employees--to get them there, to be able to do this, to get it right.

These are ethical employees trying to improve the care for veterans, and that is how they need to be referred to and that is how they should be treated.

Nothing makes me more boiling mad than when you are saying you know someone did something, and then you see they are put on administrative leave with pay.

Thank you to my colleague, Ms. Pingree, who I have had the honor and pleasure of sharing a meal at her home over this.

This is a critically important topic.