Jon Tester: “Getting these benefits and processes right requires all hands on deck, and we appreciate your work.”

These are important bills that need to get advanced, and today is the start of that.

There's plenty of examples of it. The Mission Act is a prime example. The fastest growing part of the V.A. budget. Why? Because we privatizing V.A. health care and its costing us more money, not less.

I rise to congratulate Kate M. Kaufer, the fearless leader of my defense staff, on more than 20 years of distinguished Federal service and on her well-earned retirement. For the last 4 years, it has been a privilege of a lifetime to serve…

I ask unanimous consent that the Tester- Daines substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to and the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment (No. 2074)…