Richard Burr

Child care is one of the most important decisions a parent will make when it comes to raising their children.

I applaud Senator Mikulski for her work on the Appropriations Committee to make this happen.

Not one Senator in this body would send their child to a facility where convicted felons cared for their child and where basic health and safety measures weren't followed.

I'd also like to thank today's Ranking Member, Barbara Mikulski, for agreeing to partner with me once again.

We govern best when we can function bipartisanly.

I truly believe that your legislation would not achieve its intended goal.

The need to invest resources to meet students' needs remains vitally important as today's poor students confront an ever-changing world.

I couldn't agree more, which is why I and Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado put forward a plan, the Funding Educational Opportunity Act.

Let me just refresh your memory. Title II funding formula changed over a 7-year period.

We layer and layer and layer programs on, but we have one right here where the money doesn't follow the intended pupil.

Wasn't title I designed to supplement the needs of those kids? Today, it doesn't follow the kids.

Do you agree that Federal funds that were designed for poor kids are not following the poor kids?

Many in Congress--from both sides of the aisle--are less than enthusiastic at the present about the management capabilities of the VA.

The VFW thanks Senator Burr for ensuring VA does not withhold care from veterans who may not know their insurance status has changed.

I'd also like to thank Senator Tester for his work on this issue as well.

I thank the Chair. I thank the Ranking Member. I thank my colleagues.

I will close by saying this, that the Veterans Choice Improvement Act will help veterans across America get the best health care we have to offer.

I give a great deal of credit to Senator Crapo for passionately advocating for veterans in Idaho.

I introduced this legislation with Senator Ayotte, Boozman, Crapo, Daines, Hoeven, Moran, and Tillis.

I created BARDA, wrote the legislation, and it was enacted in 2006 so that we would be ahead of this.

It seems like this is becoming a more regular process where we have something unexpected.

It's something we need to take seriously.

We cannot do without this. This is absolutely crucial. It's been at the centerpiece of a lot of things.

My hope is that you will take that very seriously, because without guidance, I don't know how the downstream effects are ever going to be felt of investment and development if, in fact, they don't have the guidance as to how to move…

I'm pleased that the rule has been finalized, as it will provide more certainty for those working to develop medical countermeasures to protect American people.