Every day, I hear from veterans in Eastern Washington who are in desperate need for help, and yet so often they feel like when they contact the VA that they are more of a burden than actually having the red carpet rolled out to them.

Honestly, I find it a bit offensive that the VA is asking for this legislation when they can do the same thing through policy today.

My bill, introduced along with Congressman Seth Moulton, is a bipartisan, readily available solution to this problem.

The VA's sole mission is to serve our veterans. Instead of having the red carpet rolled out for them, veterans are treated like a burden.

I want to just start by thanking the Chairman and thank the Ranking Member for holding this important hearing to address a fundamental need that we have within the VA for comprehensive medical records for the veterans.

There is no reason at all that the Secretary cannot say, if you have acted in bad conduct with a purchase card, you are hereby suspended from having a purchase card.

Some veterans have waited more than two years to simply get their medical records from the VA. That is unacceptable.

My personal feeling is, you give, you know, 10,000 credit cards out, you get what you get.

Some veterans have waited more than 2 years to simply get their medical records from the VA.

This legislation that is before you and I ask for your consideration is simply provides a commonsense, off-the-shelf, bipartisan solution to the problem.

I have talked to Secretary Zinke about this generally. There is a lot of stuff he wants to do.

So, you anticipate that they will be preserved as you move forward, the 503A----

The FSMB commends the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for recognizing deficiencies in information sharing and moving swiftly to rectify them.

I greatly appreciate your attention to this issue.

So great discussion is going on now across VA and in the parts of the organization that I work about clarifying those roles and responsibilities.

Does it make any sense that we would tie the hands of the State of Alaska, the hands of her people...

I am encouraged by the commitment the private sector has made in purchasing this spectrum and the practical effect it will have in eastern Washington.

I believe we have a great opportunity working together in a bipartisan manner to provide every American the opportunity they deserve, regardless of where they live.

Ensuring that hardworking families in eastern Washington have reliable access to broadband technology is a top priority of mine.

This issue is too important. Ensuring that the repack remains on schedule will mean that many in eastern Washington will gain reliable broadband access in a matter of months, not years.

Congresswoman DeLauro, to really highlight the disparity of funding for Down syndrome research.

Mrs. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is eastern Washington's chief advocate in Congress.

And I am thrilled to be here as a part of this community today and to be joined with a packed-out room that all represent part of the Down syndrome community.

We reached across the aisle. We have worked with U.S. Senators Tom Harkin, the late Arlen Specter, Richard Shelby.

Shortly after we incorporated, Global worked with Representative Sessions to help start the Congressional Caucus with Representative Patrick Kennedy.