Patty Murray

We oppose turning VA into an insurance pilot--an insurance program or turning VA into Amtrak

I want to also say that I am really concerned that the VA is continuing to propose billing veterans' private health insurance for care for service-connected conditions.

Do you think it is appropriate to break the Nation's longstanding commitment to provide care for injuries received in military service and ask veterans to foot the bill?

I outline a number of pilot projects that sound to me uncomfortably like proposals that are made by the so-called Strawman Document.

I have deep concerns about that.

I am extremely disappointed with the Administration's decision to eliminate the Geographic Programs and funding for Puget Sound.

The budget request before us today is downright offensive.

Cutting this funding is a backdoor evisceration of the core programs you claim to prize.

These cuts are not an attempt to rein in spending; they are intentional steps to undermine science and ignore environmental and public health realities.

The idea that these programs are unnecessary, redundant, or even mature ignores real results and the need to sustain the progress we have made.

I just want to tell you it is really essential that you move swiftly to nominate some regional administrators who share that passion and dedication and experience that it takes to do that.

I find HUD's proposed budget to be especially troubling in asking for a 15 percent cut.

If we can show you that investments like HOME and CDBG work to reduce homelessness in my home state and states across the country would you commit to working with us to reverse these massive cuts in your proposed budget?

The fight against homelessness is one that many towns and cities and states across the country are really engaged in.

I am incredibly proud of King County's successful application which will bring them $5.4 million to the region to strengthen our response to this crisis.

It's no surprise that they would try to prevent Congress from getting the information we need to make sure government is working for the people we represent.

Transition is an important part of a soldier's career, perhaps the most important because the transition stage shapes the soldier's re-entry into the civilian community.

Taking away public safety grants from cities like New York and Los Angeles--including critical law enforcement support and resources to prevent terrorism--will not make our cities safer. Quite the opposite.

I hope will not be approved over the opposition of parents and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

It is extremely important we implement this in a way that we all understand.

Sometimes it is really helpful to us to have answers in writing so we have that as a record.

Will you commit to responding to the letters that we have sent to you?

Okay, current law, by current law, it will reduce it by 60, and that is a fact, your proposal.

We are going back to bad numbers. We have to go by what we have approved, what current law is.

And your budget cuts the budget for the Office of Civil Rights, which addresses that Title IX enforcement on college campuses, among other important civil rights workloads.