Jon Tester

This bill was started over ten years ago with folks, some are in the back of the room...

I am going to tell you what this bill does right from the beginning here.

We need a 30-year fixed rate mortgage in this country.

I think it makes us less secure. It gives control of our food to a select few people.

I think food security is critically important in this country, and I think it is a national security issue.

There is incredible opportunity in Indian Country for agriculture.

We might be able to address some of those issues in the Farm Bill if you can point us in the right direction.

Our democracy is at risk here. We've got to figure out how to get this done and get it done right.

I don't think this is a Democrat-Republican issue. I think this is a democracy issue.

I think the number one issue with that is public safety.

That is a bit disturbing for me.

Isn't it important to know where the dough is going and how it is being laundered so that you can make the regulation fit the risk?

We ought to be doing research to make sure it is real.

I do not care if it is marijuana or sagebrush or thistle or cactus. I do not give a damn so long as it helps them.

If marijuana helps people that have chronic pain, we ought to be doing research on it.

What have you done to remove the barriers for women's health care and how are you responding to veterans with MST?

I would really like to get a list of about five specific things that the VA central office is going to do above and beyond what you are currently doing to address the clinical vacancies in our State.

This is really, really, really important.

So, what can we do to fix it?

When you overwork employees, they tend to hit the road.

We may be in a crisis in Alaska, and we may be in a crisis in North Carolina, and every other State, too.

Two weeks it is. We will hold you to it.

These vacancies must be a higher priority for you and the Department. Otherwise, VA won't be able to fulfill its mission.

If VA is not going to publicly advocate for its legislative priorities, you should not expect this Committee or this Senator to do so.

You came to us and said you needed more tools to hold bad actors at the VA accountable, and to protect whistleblowers. We acted.