We all understand the importance of maintaining the American people's faith in our elections. We understand that voting and access to the ballot box is important. My colleague spoke to the idea of outside influence, and that is exactly…

Again, I will just emphasize this amendment is based off of what we now know about COVID. We know the masks didn't work. There is no need for the Secretary of Defense to urge or mandate our military to wear masks on military installations…

I thank my colleague for his words. Again, to my colleague's point, this really is about following the science and the lessons we have learned that this information, the requirement, the mandatory implementation of mask wearing, which was…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of subtitle C of title V, add the following: SEC. 5__. PROHIBITION OF REQUIREMENT IN THE…

My amendment prohibits the Secretary of Defense from requiring individuals to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on any military installation in the United States. I was proud to introduce a similar amendment last year, and I am…

Eurosatory is France's biggest defense exposition, and it is also the largest international expo for land and air-land defense and security. If it attracts the attendance it did in 2022, over 60,000 professional visitors and over 250…

I thank my colleague for his kind words. While American defense firms can continue to participate in this exhibition, maybe it would help if Federal agencies did not lend any U.S. support for France's outrageous behavior by participating…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following: SEC. 12_. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL…

I appreciate my colleague's comments, but I would disagree. This is simply about prioritizing our veterans. Again, I speak of my community. From where I live, the VA is over 1 hour away. Veterans can be served by their regional hospital…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 36, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''. The…

The underlying legislation provides similar funding to the Board of Veterans' Appeals as the fiscal year 2024 levels, approximately $267 million. This amendment recommends that the Board of Veterans' Appeals invest a very small portion of…

When I think about my home State of Tennessee, and particularly Maury County, where I reside, we have Maury Regional Hospital, which is a community-owned nonprofit hospital. The VA is over an hour away if veterans live where I live. If…

I thank my colleague for her support. PTSD is real. We have veterans suffering from it every single day. ``Promises Made, Promises Kept,'' that is our oath. Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 28, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''…

With many veterans in my family, this is something that is near and dear to my heart as I have seen members of my family having to drive long distances to receive care that otherwise could have been provided at home. I think of my Uncle…

Coming from a family who has had family members serve in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the current war on terror, I have a near and dear place for all of our veterans in my heart. Specifically, I think about…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 32, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''…

I thank my colleague for her comments. Again, this encourages the VA to redouble its efforts in supporting States in constructing and maintaining excellent facilities to serve all veterans, especially the veterans of our foreign wars…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 43, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''…

I thank my colleague for her support. Again, all we are trying to do here is make sure that our veterans who have committed their lives and sacrificed for our country have information as they are trying to provide for their families. We…

I thank my colleague for her kind words. This is a report ordered by this legislation that directs the VA Secretary to produce a plan within 90 days that would eliminate the veteran case backlog within 3 years. It is a simple, commonsense…

Our veterans deserve the very best. It is our job to make sure they get it. That is why we are here during amendment debate to ensure that their needs continue to be met after their honorable and heroic service to the Nation. The…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Add at the end the following: SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS. It is the sense of Congress that the Board of…

My amendment adds the sense of Congress that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System should not be permitted to develop, create, or implement a central bank digital currency or use any such tool to implement monetary policy. A…