I would highly recommend that we do look through that process to see what technology.

veterans can choose to go any place they want to go for health care in the days ahead

there is a tendency with some of the IGs to look at efficiency of how the agency operates rather than the quality of care the patient receives

240 years ago, the Navy Chaplain Corps was established. Chaplains serve our Nation by serving the members of our military--providing prayer, comfort, support, healing and restoration. Chaplains go into the darkest places on earth to serve…

I believe we need a paradigm shift.

I would absolutely agree, and this hearing is not about legislation because we do not try to come with a pre-set piece on this.

How are we doing on oversight, both selection of individuals to make sure that our agencies... have good oversight?

Despite these important and impressive results, agencies consistently fail to implement roughly 20 percent of what GAO recommends each year.

They are some of the most frustrated people about the work of the agency because they see the bureaucracy and they see the inefficiencies.

We all want a Federal Government that serves the American people in the most effective and efficient way.

Creating a responsible, efficient government is something we all can and should agree on.

If the first call is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or to the IGs or something, this suddenly blew up in a hurry, it should be resolved within chain of command most of the time.

I think the IRS could do it.

Tell me why the Federal taxpayer needed to pay for that particular study.

Why in the world did Federal taxpayers pay for that?

Can you give us greater clarity to that? What is missing and what you do not have access to?

The mission is particularly vital today as we face a Federal debt approaching $19 trillion.

Senator Collins, who is my friend and colleague from Maine, would strike a provision in this bill defunding Planned Parenthood and would continue directing Federal funds to that organization. Earlier this year, I joined Senator Ernst…

It is a national issue for us. It is not a D.C. issue. It is a border-to-border issue, that we are dealing with a rapid rise in addiction and the consequences that come with that and the destruction on families and communities that are…

Let me ask you about some perspective things, as well.

I would have objection to that request if I am not able to respond to the comments she makes.

Thank you, Mr. President. That was actually the first thing I was going to say, that we refer back to Senate rules that we are to address the Presiding Officer rather than each other, and I appreciate the Presiding Officer acknowledging…

OK. Let me ask a little bit on the backlog issue, as well.

I have been able to sit in and listen to the debate today about bringing forward a bill that will do two simple things: remove funding from the single largest provider of abortions in the country, an organization that has recently sold the…

What is the speed, typically, that they can get an answer to that?