Sherrod Brown

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks for holding this hearing.

We have heard my colleagues, we have heard the media around the country, very critical of the VA, in many cases deserved.

I think it is very important that we work hard on that.

The burden rests way more with DOD than it does the VA, but you are urging the DOD to do it.

There is no doubt in my mind that Bob McDonald understands the gravity of this mission.

I am honored to do that.

The responsibility that I hope soon-to-be Secretary McDonald will assume is great.

We know he is qualified to do this.

Thank you, Senator Burr.

It is access to the system that both Senator Burr and Chairman Sanders underscored that is so very, very important.

If we cannot narrowly follow Mr. Stack's advice and Senator Wyden's ideas and do something narrowly now about inversions, we clearly have not lived up to our public charge.

The public increasingly is losing confidence in this tax system.

People in this country increasingly think the system is rigged.

What do we change about U.S. trade policy? What does TPP do, what does TTIP do, to begin to change that whole view that is part of many companies' business plans: to shut down here, move overseas, and sell back into the United States?

It is pretty apparent, it is pretty obvious, that U.S. trade policy and tax policy have encouraged jobs, American companies, to relocate overseas.

The goals of tax incentives for higher education, I believe, should be twofold.

Americans want to know where their foods come from and want to make sure that everything is being done to keep it safe.

We have called this hearing to seek answers for American consumers, pet owners, farmers, and parents about the safety of pet treats, processed chicken, and animal feed from China.

I call this hearing to order.

Thank you for joining us. I thank my Cochair, Congressman Smith, for being here and for his interest always in these issues.

Americans want and require better answers, clearer labels, and the peace of mind that the foods we import from China are safe.

Can we trust our Chinese counterparts to enforce safety up to our own standards, given China's poor enforcement of their own laws and rampant corruption?

I will introduce you in a moment. Thank you for joining us.

I appreciate the Bureau's continued interest in providing oversight to this high-cost market.

I wanted to echo the words of Senator Menendez. I am a cosponsor of his legislation.