As the designee of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), I move to strike the last word. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 minutes.

This legislation also contains $65 million, as requested, as VA switches gears and moves from modernizing its own aging electronic health record to acquiring the record DOD is using. The bill continues to include language restricting most…

The Appropriations Act before you today includes, in division C, appropriations for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 2018. Division C is exactly the same as the MILCON-VA bill reported favorably…

I am here today to rise in strong support of this rule and the underlying legislation, which is the product of a lot of effort on the part of a lot of people on a very bipartisan basis. I would first like to thank and congratulate our…

I would also like to point out that this legislation, in addition to this robust increase for medical research, the chairman also provided substantial support for early childhood, a priority to him and to many of us. And there are other…

we will need to assemble bipartisan coalitions to deal with infrastructure and I would argue tax reform.

we should try to work this bill from the center out.

the protections simply aren't there for people with pre-existing conditions.

I say we have to get it right, not get it done fast. And I thought the bill misses the mark and that's why I take opposition, I take it.

Everyone believes that the VA has interpreted the ruling--misinterpreted the legislation.

I am concerned that, without consistent leadership, this expensive project could be derailed or reconfigured.

As I am sure we can all agree, subjecting veterans to a 5-year wait period in any capacity is simply unacceptable, and they are counting on us to correct this inequity.

I mean, some of these men and women are in their eighties and they are waiting for some sort of adjudication of their cases. Totally inexcusable.

Members of Congress were very concerned last year, so we included language in the bill requiring the VA to maintain suicide hotline standards consistent with the guidelines of the American Association of Suicidology.

The Student Veterans Association of America recently published research saying that public schools received 34 percent of all Post-9/11 GI Bill funding and produced 64 percent of the degrees, but the for-profit schools use 40 percent of…

I would like to now move to the VA's antiquated financial management system. Your reviews of nine VA care programs revealed a morass of problems in financial accounting, timely payment to providers, and inadequate internal controls.

It cannot be overstated enough the importance of research as a part of the mission of VA.

Federal funds can serve as a real catalyst and leverage private investment for development.

As this hearing has demonstrated, the committee holds a great deal of interest in supporting efforts that will allow the United States to gain and maintain a lead in the research, development, and the eventual integration of UAS.

As Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Caucus, I know that fuel cells, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are just one technology option that automakers are pursuing to meet these obligations.

The bank is demonstrated to be a real value for taxpayers by consistently returning money back to Treasury.

This kind of growth presents economic and employment opportunities, but it will also require that our infrastructure keeps pace with these types of developments.

In my view, this budget seems a bit too focused on hard power, not enough on soft power...

The country can't default on its obligations.

The continuing resolution before you includes, in Division A, the full-year appropriations for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for fiscal year 2017. Division A is exactly the same as the MILCON-VA conference…