CHARLES W. DENT: “And I just want to respond to the gentlewoman from Florida's comments. You know, a lot of people have been saying that…”

“And I just want to respond to the gentlewoman from Florida's comments. You know, a lot of people have been saying that we cut spending in this bill. The President requested an 8 percent increase. We provided for a 6 percent increase. You know, because the President makes a request does not mean that Congress has to behave like potted plants and simply accede to every item that the President has asked for. That is not our role as Members of Congress. Our job is to provide some real serious oversight over a department that has failed in many respects. And Members on both sides of the aisle agree with that, given the problems of Denver, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Oakland, and elsewhere. I can go through a long list. But some of the oversight mechanisms in this bill, I should mention, include things like requiring a spending plan before construction dollars can be spent. We did that because of what has happened all across the country. We prohibit increases in the scope of construction projects. We prohibit transfer of funds between construction projects. We fence 75 percent of funding until conditions are met, cut funding for poorly performing offices, require detailed quarterly reports regarding disability compensation claims. We have tightened restrictions on reprogramming. We have also rescinded $415 million from VA pay accounts, that is pay and bonuses, limiting the amount of money available for pay increases and bonuses.…”