Beto O'Rourke

Perhaps there is a communication breakdown in El Paso in terms of what they believe they can or cannot do.

In El Paso, Texas, the community I serve and represent, I hear persistently from veterans about our women's clinic and its shortcomings.

I, for one, will not be able to vote to move 20 percent of the $5 billion that has been appropriated for a specific purpose to cover up a mistake that the VA has made.

I will not allow it to happen.

Why not ask for a new appropriation?

I think that everything over $10 million... should be built, designed, and overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers or some other party, not the VA.

I think in the interest of the taxpayer and accountability and transparency it is one that we should have to go through as painful as today has been.

I no longer trust the VA. It is not that I do not trust you, I do not trust the VA's ability to construct these facilities.

I would be much more inclined to support a new appropriation than to take money from veterans who need to be served in communities like mine.

I think it is largely in part to those who work with your organizations who advocate for veterans who need this kind of help.

I am here, even though I am not a permanent member of this subcommittee, I asked to be here today because I wanted to get your feedback on the legislation.

I will speak briefly about H.R. 800, also known as the Express Appeals Act, and as Chairman Miller's bill intends to do, this is to speed up the appeals process for veterans.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to thank each of you for your testimony and your response to our questions.

We all agree that we are not seeing the outcomes in terms of accuracy and wait times that we want.

I am hearing from Mr. Ortner and Mr. Varela that we have some unanimity with the VA on limiting the point at which a veteran can enter this pilot program.

I think you made an excellent case for the folly of our current budget trajectory and how that is going to impact readiness.

And our greatest weapon, again, as General Paxton said, are the men and women who serve this country in uniform.

What is different about our strategy today that is going to ensure its success?

I am having a very hard time understanding what the strategy is.

I think, perhaps more importantly, that we have the necessary strategy in place.

I think that should extend to political choices, diplomatic choices, and choices that our allies make.

I can think of no more important decision that we will make as Members of Congress than whether or not to send our Armed Forces into harm's way.

But bottom line, I take your answer to be we do not know what Russia will do should we arm Ukraine.

Are we not, Ms. Wormuth, creating a moral hazard for Europe and especially for these Baltic States?

our NATO allies have pledged to bring their defense spending up to 2 percent of gross domestic product.