the VA is the largest integrated health care system in the country. It has problems.

we spend on average twice per capita what other countries spend, all of whom cover everyone while enjoying a longer life expectancy and better health outcomes.

But I would hope that at the end of the day, we understand that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

many of my colleagues voted to cut $1 trillion in funding over a 10-year period to Medicaid, and $500 billion to Medicare.

I think Senator Roberts a couple of years ago--Senator, correct me if I'm wrong, but you were telling me I think in parts of Kansas there are counties where there are no doctors.

the cost of healthcare is very, very high. Of course it's high. We pay almost twice as much per capita for healthcare as any other nation on earth.

It is more important than ever that the Commission's Federal Co-chair be a strong advocate for the communities that desperately need these investments.

Too often, rural America has been left behind when it comes to economic development.

If Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court, it will have a profoundly negative effect on workers' rights, women's rights, and voting rights for the decades to come.

Too many of our veterans are not getting the dental care they need.

All of this discussion, picking up on Senator Manchin's point, tells us why we need universal health care.

All right. Let me just jump in and ask anybody, are you aware of veterans who have serious dental needs?

I appreciate that very much, and I think the time is long overdue, as Rick just mentioned, for us to pass that.

It is way past time for the VA to do this pilot study.

What do we know about people who use VA? They are older, they are sicker, and they have multiple and complex interactions of physical conditions.

Whether or not you have dental care, which is absolutely necessary to good health, should not depend on where you live.

They literally drew a line on a map across the mouth of the river. I mean, you do not have to be an ocean hydrologist to know how stupid that is.

What we are proposing is nothing terribly radical. It is a pilot project to see what kind of need is out there.

the idea that we are compensating people appropriately for exposure to Agent Orange and the diabetes it causes, but not dealing with dental care does not make any sense to me at all.

Untreated oral health conditions can lead to tooth loss, pain and infection, and contribute to an increased risk for serious medical conditions such as diabetes and poor birth outcomes.

Maybe our position should be if you are a veteran and you served in the United States military and you become ill, you are entitled to VA health care. End of discussion.

the time is long overdue for the VA to acknowledge what most Americans acknowledge: dental care is health care.

FRA supports the draft legislation sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) to authorize a pilot program for expanded dental services for certain veterans;

I thank the Democratic leader for his strong efforts on this enormously important issue. I want to reiterate that this really is not a Democratic resolution. If there is any resolution that should be bipartisan, this is it. My Republican…

the Senator from Kentucky just told us that he wants dialogue with Russia, he wants diplomacy with Russia, and that he thinks it is important that we communicate with Russia. I agree. Who disagrees with that? There is not one word in this…