James Barrett: “our veterans and our troops have protected us from enemies, foreign and domestic, in the past decades and currently…”

“our veterans and our troops have protected us from enemies, foreign and domestic, in the past decades and currently today. When has it become a part of our congressional activity to not fully protect their interests? Our VA appropriations bill passed the House over 140 days ago with strong bipartisan support. However, the House majority party never appointed conferees for the bill, where the Senate immediately appointed them. The military and veterans appropriations bill is now back on the floor with an additional bill attached. Our servicemembers, veterans and our troops, deserve the best that Congress can deliver to them. The MilCon-VA appropriations bill should not be an accessory for massive labor spending. Has politics blocked our activities in Washington where we cannot pass a military funding bill for our soldiers? I stand here today with so many others who join me in saying, our MilCon-VA appropriations bill needs to stand alone, unattached to another bill.”