In our State of Tennessee--and I want to go over some things that we are doing there and just get your comments on it, and also on the issue of incarceration.

We made community college free. Anybody in our state who graduates from high school now can go to community college or technical school.

We can't arrest our way out of this problem.

And I think the President did the First Step Act. It was a bipartisan bill that I totally agreed with.

We believe that investment in education in the State of Tennessee is going to pay huge dividends for our State.

I agree with many things that all of you said.

In Tennessee we recognized--we had a skills gap and we recognized that in our State.

We have to do something about it because it is affecting the life expectancy in this country, it is also affecting our workforce.

I do believe that the PRO Act is a solution looking for a problem, not the other way around.

I think the problem in my state is too few skilled workers.

I think that is one of the most fundamental basic rights we have as an American citizen, is a secret ballot.

I also want to thank all of our VSO partners for their support and help to craft a bill that finally fulfills our nation's promise to these veterans.

These veterans have waited long enough for a decision, and if VA has not already started enforcing Procopio, it is a violation of law.

I could not agree with you more: Whatever creates an increased wages for workers is a good thing.

Our Blue Water Navy veterans have waited too long.

I do not remember in my lifetime a better time for a young person to graduate from school with skills.

Regrettably, VA has chosen not to offer any testimony on H.R. 299 today.

I support the draft update of H.R. 299. I hope it passes the House without delay.

It is no surprise that one of my top priorities, as Ranking Member of this Committee, is continuing our work on the 115th Congress to ensure that our Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans receive the benefits they have earned.

I just--I can't--I don't think that this Committee or this country can tolerate any more delays since we have got a clear direction from the Court now.

523 of us are dying every day, Vietnam veterans.

I mean, I have been on this Committee for 10 and a half years and I know the Chairman worked very closely with me last year.

I couldn't agree with you more, there is no way on this earth I could prove where I walked around in Korea 40-something years later.

We need to ensure Blue Water veterans in the event Procopio is appealed to the Supreme Court and overturned.

Whatever creates an increased wages for workers is a good thing.