However, this does not appear to be a sufficient reason to wait and deny this therapy to veterans who need it.

I believe there is no more appropriate way to honor our veterans and their service than by training their fellow veterans to assist them with their VA benefits.

I was proud to chair the Committee's first ever Member Day last year.

I am a perfect example of a veteran who is a Category 8 that can not go to the VA. If I needed those services, where would I go?

Some of the boldest and best ideas for solving the issues facing our Nation and our Heroes come from outside the beltway.

Our goal should be a contracting process that is efficient, transparent, and accountable.

That's why I will reintroduce legislation this Congress to make it possible for veterans to again work in congressional offices as work-study students.

Ten years is long enough. We must act quickly to ensure that the Bakersfield clinic is built.

This is the best economy in my lifetime.

I think one of the most important things in this free society that we live in is a secret ballot.

If they want to organize, they should be able to do that. If they don't, they should also have that right.

Veterans have a right to make informed choices about where to receive care; however, that choice is dependent on transparent and accurate information about wait times.

We would be remiss if we do not take a moment to acknowledge the many ways in which access to care for veterans has improved since 2014.

I want to commend the VA for it has absolutely improved since 2014, there is no question about that.

Oh, I think it is a noble goal, I mean, I absolutely do, it is just hard for me to believe it can be carried out.

Thank you, Dr. Kizer, for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your expertise with us this morning.

Well, my bet is that I will call before the end of the day that refutes that, that would be my bet.

The two most important people in my office was the first person to answer the phone when the patient called in to make that appointment and the person that greeted them when they came in.

I think that the VA--as a matter of fact I can unequivocally say that between when I came on this Committee in 2009 and now, the VA is doing a much better job.

The problem was access.

I have a very strong feeling. I put on a uniform and left this country to go to Southeast Asia over 40 years ago to protect your right to have a secret ballot.

I found it hypocritical that when we developed the USMCA, that we had people on this committee right here insist that part of the MCA agreement that workers in Mexico had a right to a secret ballot, which I totally agree with, but we are…

The way you have a noncoercive--the way it is noncoercive is you pull the curtain and you get to vote in a secret ballot.

I think in the private business asking for the same protections with private dollars as with public dollars when they have to provide a service they don't think they should.

The RFRA protects people of faith from discrimination by allowing them to challenge government actions that would burden their freedom to practice their religion.