I heard from veterans who still face unacceptably long wait times for mental health care.

I also heard from veterans who still find themselves confronted by obstacles to employment.

I heard from veterans who are just really fed up with the dysfunction of the claims system.

I heard from women veterans who are struggling to receive specialized care.

I believe that all VA programs, including medical care, are exempt from cuts; but there is some ambiguity.

I thank my colleague from New Hampshire. For millions of American women, reading the news this morning was like stepping into a time machine and going back 50 years, seeing the headlines and the photos of this all-male panel in the House…

last week, we saw something amazing happening in communities across the country. When the news got out that the Susan G. Komen Foundation had cut off funding for breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood, men and women across this…

I thank the Senator from Minnesota. As he was eloquently telling us, last Saturday was the 2-year anniversary of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that caused our democracy to take a giant step back from the values we hold dear in…

there are no more important issues for middle-class families across America than jobs and the economy. This is what they want their elected officials to be focused on. It is exactly what I think we ought to be working on every single day…

I come to the floor to speak about the nomination of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and to urge my colleagues to join me in voting in support of his confirmation. In July of last year, I was proud to join…

I come to the floor this evening to urge my colleagues to support legislation to extend and expand the payroll tax cut on which middle-class families across America depend. Last week Democrats brought a bill to the floor that would have…

The middle class in America is in crisis right now.

I rise today to reiterate my support for section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Section 526 prohibits Federal agencies including the Department of Defense--from contracting for fuels that have higher emissions…

I come to the floor this morning to urge my colleagues to support the middle-class tax cut bill that would extend and expand the payroll tax relief for our families and small business owners. This legislation is straightforward. It should…

While I understand the Department has concerns that this survey is not comprehensive, after the countless Inspector General and GAO reports, hearings, public laws, conferences, and stories from veterans and clinicians in the field, it is…

I would like to recognize and honor the service of Thomas H. Miller as he retires as the executive director of the Blinded Veterans Association. Mr. Miller has been an outstanding servant to his country and an advocate for his fellow…

I am really disturbed by the disconnect between the provider data and your testimony on the wait-time issue.

Ultimately, in the end, I think that if we work together with the VA and amongst ourselves we can do a lot of good work.

They need care. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

I want to get this panel started. I appreciate everybody's patience.

I know the Chairman is very proud of and I am very proud of, and this Committee should be very proud of that work.

If the response is to get more mental health professionals in the field... then we are moving in the right direction.

If Senator Burr is correct, if the response to the folks that come back with unseen injuries is to develop focus groups and guidelines, that ain't good enough.

I think the VA has made some strides but not enough.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.