Political Quotes

“Madam President, with Memorial Day coming up this weekend, I want to offer a few thoughts on this package of legislative reforms for the Department of Veterans Affairs, known as the VA MISSION Act of 2018, being considered by the U.S. Senate. I want to start by commending Senator Jon Tester of Montana, the senior Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, for negotiating based on what I call principled bipartisanship: taking ideas from both parties without sacrificing core values. Montanans have every reason to be proud of Senator Tester for spending months at the negotiating table with Chairman Isakson, the House of Representatives, and the White House. Make no mistake, the bill before the Senate will make some important reforms to the way the VA does business. It will consolidate the VA's multiple community care programs, including the Veterans Choice program, into one permanent framework to allow veterans to seek care in their communities. Streamlining these programs was something sought by the Obama administration as well and will help make it easier for veterans to understand their options and access the care they need. It will also expand a VA program that provides benefits to in-home caregivers, an effort I have supported for years. The program is currently open to veterans wounded after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The VA MISSION Act will open the program to veterans from all eras.…”