Political Quotes

“I wanted to talk for just a few minutes, if I could, about a bill that is coming to the floor. It is called the PACT Act. And this is something that those of us at the Veterans' Affairs Committee have worked on for quite a period of time. And we had worked diligently through what we thought was a prescribed and agreed-to process, and we are finding out that the majority leader is pretty much forcing this issue to the floor this week for a vote. And he is calling it ``the most ambitious and important expansion of veteran healthcare benefits that we have seen in decades.'' Now, Senators Schumer and Tester have, indeed, put forth a bill that when you look at it, when you hear the intent, a first glance at it, you say: Oh, this is exactly what we need to help our servicemembers. And, indeed, we all are just so grateful for the men and women who have served in this country, who have worn that uniform. But there is a lot to be said for bringing measures to the floor for passage when they are ready, when there has been agreement on critical importance. As the majority leader said, the biggest expansion of benefits that we have seen in decades. Now, many of us have worked for quite a period of time on the issue of toxic exposure and have worked on how best to make certain that when we address this, that you are going to get care to the veteran in a timely manner--they are not going to have to wait; they are going to receive the care that they need.…”