Maggie Hassan

I think it is really important as a parent, I know every parent looks around what is the best childcare facility I can go to, what reflects my values, knowing that this is part of what we have to do today.

We need more Federal investment, though, to make it stick and to make it work for families, and businesses, and fuel our economy.

Investing in childcare is about improving child well-being overall.

Along with Senator Young, I have introduced the bipartisan After Hours Child Care Act, which would expand access to childcare for Americans who work nontraditional hours.

This is obviously a critical issue for all of us, for our constituents, for our families, and most importantly, for our kids.

Agency chief information officers play an important role in advocating for the IT needs of the agency.

It could have a really significant, and at times, really dangerous impact, right?

I think it is a really important area to focus on and really try to make sure that that is, in fact, how the agency is approaching it.

It is deeply concerning that DHS relies on outdated technology for some of its most important work.

The first job of government is to keep people safe, and I am very grateful that you are working to do that.

But you still do not have an IT working capital fund that is devoted over years to improving the IT and modernizing IT.

It is still taking some of those resources and using them for non-IT purposes.

These aging systems not only increase costs, they can also jeopardize our national security.

Last year, my bipartisan Solid Start Act was passed into law, which makes sure that the VA's Solid Start Program will continue to be a resource for service members when they are leaving active duty.

I think it would be great to facilitate this conversation in this meeting. But this is where I think having women in leadership is so critically important for the mission of the VA.

I appreciate your service. I appreciate your family and their support of your service as well.

I am glad we were able to pass it last summer.

Along with Senator Young, I have introduced the bipartisan After Hours Child Care Act, which would expand access to childcare for Americans who work nontraditional hours.

Investing in childcare is about improving child well-being overall.

We urge Congress to consider and pass this important legislation.

This legislation would provide critical funding to help communities implement and expand programs.

I just want to reaffirm that it is my understanding that you agree that all Americans should be equal before the law.

It will be very important to New Hampshire veterans and for our whole community to meet that deadline, if not earlier.

What you all are trying to do is make sure that you are repairing this facility to a point where we will not see these kinds of ongoing failures, which have really been incredibly disruptive to veterans in New Hampshire.

I really appreciate you taking the time to walk me and Senator Shaheen through the plans that you and your team are working on.