Lee Terry: “I first want to thank my colleagues on the VA-MilCon Subcommittee--in particular, Mr. Fortenberry and Mr. Culberson and…”

“I first want to thank my colleagues on the VA-MilCon Subcommittee--in particular, Mr. Fortenberry and Mr. Culberson and their staff--for their excellent work on this legislation in helping me facilitate this amendment and discussion. I also want to thank, of course, the committee staff, who has just been wonderful. {time} 1545 My amendment would require that no funds in this appropriations bill shall be used for the administrative expenses until the Secretary meets with the Nebraska delegation. The Secretary's calendar should never be so busy that he cannot meet with an entire delegation. Mr. Chairman, on June 6 of 2013--almost 11 months ago--our delegation asked for a meeting with Secretary Shinseki. When I say ``delegation,'' I mean all of the House Members and both Senators signed on to this letter, which I will submit for the Record. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, June 6, 2013. Hon. Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Secretary Shinseki: We respectfully ask for a personal meeting with you to discuss the current state of the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. We are pleased that Omaha is on the VA's construction list and as such will someday have a new facility built. However, as number 18 out of 20 on the VA's major construction projects list, the reality seems to indicate that there is a small chance a new facility will be built by the end of the decade.…”