I rise today to say a few words about an issue I think does not get enough discussion in the Senate but is of great concern to the American people in general; that is, the need for Congress to pass comprehensive Postal Service reform as…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Postal Reform

I know it is easy to beat up on the VA but the VA has made some significant improvements under General Shinseki and taken important steps in dealing with what I consider a national embarrassment, and that is homelessness among veterans.

BVA strongly supports this bill as it would expand eligibility for comprehensive benefits and services to family caregivers of all veterans.

My impression is that people are gravitating more to these type of procedures.

I have introduced legislation to expand VA's caregiver program to veterans of all eras.

I would like to thank Ranking Member Burr for his ongoing efforts to support our Camp Lejeune veterans.

Is there any reason, in your judgment, why we should not expand the program to Vietnam-era veterans, their families, as well as those veterans from other eras?

This is important legislation with real promise to address the physical, mental and spiritual injuries incurred in war.

Thank you for your continued leadership on veteran's issues and for convening this hearing today.

I am honored to appear before this Committee as the policy director of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Senator Burr and I have introduced legislation to make common sense improvements to some of VA's programs for homeless veterans, including making transitional housing programs more accessible to the growing population of homeless women…

Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Bernie Sanders introduced S. 851, the Caregivers Expansion and Improvement Act of 2013.

Sometimes this Committee has had a problem with getting reports in a timely manner.

We greatly appreciate your continued efforts to support and improve veterans' health care.

I want to see every veteran in this country who is entitled to benefits to get them or at least know about them.

I do not want to see an impediment from the way the CBO deals with this issue limit our ability to expand CBOCs.

On behalf of the 2,100 community- and faith-based organizations NCHV represents, we thank you for your steadfast commitment to serving our Nation's most vulnerable heroes.

The breadth of this bill is a testament to this Committee's leadership in the effort to prevent and end veteran homelessness.

We welcome the focus on health-promotion in S. 852, and believe VA health care facilities can be important settings to advance the goal of wellness.

I applaud the intention and design of this bill and commend you for taking the initiative in this vital area.

Introduced by Chairman Bernie Sanders and Ranking Member Richard Burr, S. 825 would--among many important provisions--reauthorize competitive grant programs for community- and faith-based veteran service providers.

Thank you very much. My time has expired.

BVA requests support for these bills which will ensure that VHA can improve care and access for disabled veterans.

Clearly, if this Committee is to do its job well, it is important that we hear not just from representatives of the VA but from people on the ground who will be impacted by legislation that this Committee considers.