Discussion · House of Representatives
Virginia Foxx Republican
“I support this bill for veterans. It makes sure disabled combat veterans get their earned benefits while saving about $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. It also improves veteran healthcare and cuts red tape. Democrats just want to spend more money without fixing real problems.”
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the American people need to take note of the amount of rhetorical smog emanating from the other side of the Chamber, because it is obscene. Our Democratic colleagues continue to weave together an entirely disingenuous and deceptive narrative that Democrats are the ones standing at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to supporting our Nation’s veterans. That has never been the case and will never be the case. If Democrats truly cared enough about veterans, they would spend their time supporting Chairman Bost’s bill and not coming up with hack job, so-called solutions that do nothing to reform the VA and deliver high-quality care and service to those who have served this Nation. Mr. Speaker, it is sad that our colleagues across the aisle have chosen this position. It is sad that they can gin up misleading narratives and hawk them around like someone delivering newspapers on a bike. The bill before us ensures that combat-disabled servicemembers who were medically retired through no fault of their own receive the benefits they earned while maintaining equity across retiree populations. This is what happens when personalities of the day and political gamesmanship subvert actual legislating, like what Chairman Bost and Republicans have been doing the entire time. The former doesn’t deliver for veterans. It treats them like second-class citizens. Their solution is spending more money while delivering fewer outcomes. Wow, color us shocked. It is a story as old as time. Instead, the bill before us today would reduce net direct spending by approximately $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. In an era of growing deficits and debt, H.R. 9237 demonstrates that Congress can advance significant veterans’ priorities while remaining fiscally responsible and reducing overall Federal spending. Republicans are focused on targeted relief. This is targeted relief that focuses on combat-disabled veterans, includes additional fairness safeguards, and does not throw money at a problem with the meager hope of things fixing themselves by osmosis. Let’s run through what else you will not find in the cobbled- together, so-called solutions that Democrats are throwing their weight behind. You won’t find a unified Democratic effort to reform the VA’s outdated construction and leasing processes that delay the opening of clinics and facilities across the country. In Chairman Bost’s bill, Republicans are doing just that. You won’t find the Democratic commitment to ensure that veterans can continue to access the mental health care support services in the communities where they live nationwide. In Chairman Bost’s bill, it is there. You won’t find Democratic solutions to slash government bureaucracy that hinders veterans from accessing the care they deserve and earned. In Chairman Bost’s bill, they are there. Mr. Speaker, that is the difference here. All Democrats see is another government program to funnel money into without any commitment whatsoever to improving the lives of those the program serves. They will contort the language they use and the policy gimmicks they cook up to mislead people and organizations into believing mistruths. VSOs, the purpose-driven organizations that are dedicated to advocating for veterans, have been led to believe that Republicans somehow want to rob veterans of their benefits, but that is entirely untrue. As is evidenced by President Trump’s efforts, the efforts of Secretary Collins at the VA, and the veteran-driven legislation here in Congress, Republicans see veterans and meet them where they are. Republicans see and understand the problems that veterans face every day and want to ensure that the VA is nimble, responsive, and rightsized so that veterans are not left in the dark and to fend for themselves. Here is a final little nugget that I will leave you with, Mr. Speaker: The majority of our Republican members on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee are indeed veterans. There is only one Democrat on that committee who is a veteran. I trust veterans to know and understand what veterans need and deserve. People are actually attuned to issues veterans face as opposed to those who simply haven’t the slightest clue. Republicans are the ones with actual solutions here. We are not bloviating like so many have chosen to do. We are fighting for veterans, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”
-
Speech on a bill
Relevance 1 of 100
Only 1% of this speech directly addressed the bill under debate.
See full analysis -
Speech on a bill
Signal 34 of 100
Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.
See full analysis
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the American people need to take note of the amount of rhetorical smog emanating from the other side of the Chamber, because it is obscene. Our Democratic colleagues continue to weave together an entirely disingenuous and deceptive narrative that Democrats are the ones standing at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to supporting our Nation’s veterans. That has never been the case and will never be the case. If Democrats truly cared enough about veterans, they would spend their time supporting Chairman Bost’s bill and not coming up with hack job, so-called solutions that do nothing to reform the VA and deliver high-quality care and service to those who have served this Nation. Mr. Speaker, it is sad that our colleagues across the aisle have chosen this position. It is sad that they can gin up misleading narratives and hawk them around like someone delivering newspapers on a bike. The bill before us ensures that combat-disabled servicemembers who were medically retired through no fault of their own receive the benefits they earned while maintaining equity across retiree populations. This is what happens when personalities of the day and political gamesmanship subvert actual legislating, like what Chairman Bost and Republicans have been doing the entire time. The former doesn’t deliver for veterans. It treats them like second-class citizens. Their solution is spending more money while delivering fewer outcomes. Wow, color us shocked. It is a story as old as time. Instead, the bill before us today would reduce net direct spending by approximately $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. In an era of growing deficits and debt, H.R. 9237 demonstrates that Congress can advance significant veterans’ priorities while remaining fiscally responsible and reducing overall Federal spending. Republicans are focused on targeted relief. This is targeted relief that focuses on combat-disabled veterans, includes additional fairness safeguards, and does not throw money at a problem with the meager hope of things fixing themselves by osmosis. Let’s run through what else you will not find in the cobbled- together, so-called solutions that Democrats are throwing their weight behind. You won’t find a unified Democratic effort to reform the VA’s outdated construction and leasing processes that delay the opening of clinics and facilities across the country. In Chairman Bost’s bill, Republicans are doing just that. You won’t find the Democratic commitment to ensure that veterans can continue to access the mental health care support services in the communities where they live nationwide. In Chairman Bost’s bill, it is there. You won’t find Democratic solutions to slash government bureaucracy that hinders veterans from accessing the care they deserve and earned. In Chairman Bost’s bill, they are there. Mr. Speaker, that is the difference here. All Democrats see is another government program to funnel money into without any commitment whatsoever to improving the lives of those the program serves. They will contort the language they use and the policy gimmicks they cook up to mislead people and organizations into believing mistruths. VSOs, the purpose-driven organizations that are dedicated to advocating for veterans, have been led to believe that Republicans somehow want to rob veterans of their benefits, but that is entirely untrue. As is evidenced by President Trump’s efforts, the efforts of Secretary Collins at the VA, and the veteran-driven legislation here in Congress, Republicans see veterans and meet them where they are. Republicans see and understand the problems that veterans face every day and want to ensure that the VA is nimble, responsive, and rightsized so that veterans are not left in the dark and to fend for themselves. Here is a final little nugget that I will leave you with, Mr. Speaker: The majority of our Republican members on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee are indeed veterans. There is only one Democrat on that committee who is a veteran. I trust veterans to know and understand what veterans need and deserve. People are actually attuned to issues veterans face as opposed to those who simply haven’t the slightest clue. Republicans are the ones with actual solutions here. We are not bloviating like so many have chosen to do. We are fighting for veterans, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.