Jon Tester: “Thank you, Madam President. It will be some time before Senator Kirk arrives, so I do want to give my remarks for the…”

“Thank you, Madam President. It will be some time before Senator Kirk arrives, so I do want to give my remarks for the purpose of other folks who would like to talk about this bill. I rise today along with Senator Kirk to usher the legislation through this Chamber, the VA-MILCON appropriations bill, as quickly as possible. I want to thank Senator Kirk for his work on this bill. As I said last week when we began debating the VA-MILCON appropriations bill, this legislation has huge significance. It marks a good-faith effort on behalf of this body to move forward with an appropriations bill that responsibly invests in our national security, our economy, and our country. I also think that, among all the appropriations bills to move forward, it is right and just that a bill to honor our commitment to our Nation's veterans be the first one to break the gridlock. I recognize that the VA-MILCON appropriations bill that came out of the committee last spring fell far short of what the VA needs to provide the care our veterans have earned. But now that Congress has passed the budget agreement, we have crafted a substitute amendment that will bring this bill closer to where it has to be to meet the needs of the brave men and women who have served this country. This amendment will provide an additional $1.9 billion for VA medical services. This amendment fixes a flawed bill.…”