the bureaucracy at the VA is absolutely, fundamentally broken, and nowhere is it more broken than on the IT management side.

It seems like the only disciplinary action I see is people being moved from one office to the next.

without the continuity of leadership at the top, it is hard to present the full story of accountability.

I agree with those who have said that the VR&E should be the crown jewel of benefits provided to veterans.

If any of us, Republican, Democrat, President, or Member of Congress, really care about our veterans, we are going to make this a priority.

If I got my votes right half the time, I would be fired. I mean, my district would fire me.

But if it is defining success better and having better performance metrics, if we are chasing the wrong thing in that regard, if it is authority you don't have, we have to just be clear so we can pursue that alongside of you.

I mean, should the VA fire the whole team?

Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas? There was no objection.

Mr. Chairman, 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 337, after line 18, insert the following: SEC. ___. REFINANCING OF CERTAIN RURAL…

Mr. Chair, I respect the ranking member's comments, and I appreciate his commitment to rural America, but I would submit that my hometown, which is over the 20,000 threshold but under the 50,000, has every bit of the challenges that small…