On the recordDecember 9, 2016
as we approach the end of this Congress, I rise to discuss not only what we have accomplished in this Chamber but also specifically what we have accomplished for the State of Nevada. I am especially proud that many of my priorities have been able to move forward to help Nevadans thrive--from veterans to health care, to infrastructure. These accomplishments prove that this majority was prepared to work and produce lasting results. I look forward to advancing even more priorities that benefit Nevada in the 115th Congress. As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have been proud to advocate on behalf of Nevada's brave heroes. My focus has always been on issues impacting Nevada's veterans most. I will give you some examples: guaranteeing our veterans have access to care, ensuring they receive care quickly, working to hire more VA doctors, providing health care for rural veterans, and addressing the disability claims backlog we have been working on for years. In this Congress, there has been a lot of progress. As a cochair of the Senate VA Backlog Working Group, I have been holding the VA's feet to the fire on the disability claims backlog. The VA has adopted many of the working group's policy recommendations, and this pressure has helped reduce the backlogs from 405,000 claims in 2014 to 92,000 today.…
