Richard Burr

It actually accomplished many of the things that Republicans and Democrats highlight about the Affordable Care Act, but it didn't get into a large top-down, government-designed program that picks winners and losers.

I also want to thank Senators Burr and Hagan who have both been tremendous champions of community colleges and student success in our State.

We are the State of First Flight, and I know you might claim that for Iowa but----

It is the first new private jet in 30 years.

Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you today to discuss some of the lessons learned during our 4-year journey into improving student success.

I think that since taking over the helm of those 58 community colleges, Scott has led a course redesign so that students are taking relevant courses that prepare them for employment.

I have always seen a willingness on the part of VA and expertise on the part of the VA and I have seen nothing but reluctance and pull back on the part of DOD.

Our hope is to structurally put some accountability into the system.

I will take my 53 seconds that I have got to editorialize a little bit.

I am not necessarily sold on the fact that the VA can produce the benefit, can deliver the service cheaper than the private sector has been able to deliver it.

Well, it is crucial that we get this bill passed, and I think my colleagues understand that.

Let me just say that I am not necessarily sold on the fact that the VA can produce the benefit, can deliver the service cheaper than the private sector has been able to deliver it but I look forward to you helping me with that.

Turning briefly to VA health care legislation, we support your bill, Senator Burr.

It strikes me as a little bit disingenuous that there would be pilot programs, an effort to set up a national structure.

Well, there was an effort, there was an effort to start to roll out the national VA system, right?

Is it necessary for the VA to rush helter-skelter into a questionable expenditure of capacity?

When men and women volunteer to serve in the Armed Forces, they should do so knowing Congress will do all it can to support their efforts.

The Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of VA Act of 2013 addresses two distinctly separate issues.

We know sexual assault occurs all too often in the military. Everybody here is aware of that. That is not acceptable.

We are trying very hard to run this Committee in a bipartisan way because I have no doubt that my Republican colleagues absolutely feel as strongly as my Democratic colleagues and I do on the issue of veterans.

I appreciate the Committee's time and effort regarding the Federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe.

Well, let me stop you if I can because there was in Sources Sought a notice released on October 9, 2013...

If it influences the Senator from Iowa at all, I will allow my 2 minutes to go to him, if the Senator wouldn't object to him having 3 additional minutes.

I have learned in my 20 years in Washington that ``permanent'' is defined as a 2-year session of Congress, and the next could easily change it.

This is an important issue, and I want to thank my colleagues who came together this morning to try to find an additional solution. I thank Senator Manchin, Senator King, and Senator Carper because they were willing to try to fix this…