Both proposals are harmful to Montana's national forests and our way of life.
It just gives more ammunition to those short-sighted people out there that want to turn our land over to the private sector.
I will tell you why. Forest fighting costs since 1995, they were 16 percent. Today, they are 52 percent.
There is no problem too big that cannot be solved if people who are willing to solve it sit down together and work together to do it.
I look forward to working with the Chairman and this entire Committee to developing a bill that makes the VA stronger.
The President's Budget Request lays out a plan that would pay for expanded access to private-sector care by taking money from disabled vets.
As we said when we had the joint hearings with the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, we should be taking our direction from you.
Sending veterans to the private sector does not absolve the VA of the responsibility or the benefits.
Admitting to problems is the first step toward solving them.
I am not going to be the guy up here who allows the Administration to chip away at VA health care.
I promise you, they will follow the money.