georgia is holding two senate runoff elections tomorrow. this afternoon president-elect joe biden will be in atlanta at a rally for democratic senate candidates, john and ralph. watch live coverage starting at 4:15 p.m. eastern here on "c-span2". and president trump traveled to georgia today to campaign for republican senators david and kelly. the races will determine which party controls the senate . that will be live from georgia beginning at 7:00 p.m. eastern on c-span and online at cspan.org or listen the free c-span radio app. on tuesday, the balance of power in the senate will be decided by the winners of the two georgia and offspring the republican senators david purdue and kelly loeffler are defending their seats in the control of the table. and democratic ten and ten challengers will be there. all the results and hear from

the candidates in these final races of campaign 2020. life coverage on c-span cspan.org . the free c-span radio app. >> we are back with dan who is a senior advisory for concerned veterans for america . he's here to discuss groups priorities for the new congress and the incoming biden administration. good morning dan. >> good morning and thank you for having me on . >> tells what the mission is for concerned veterans for america and how are you funded party to. >> so concerned veterans for americanad are the organizations whose mission it is an advocate for the policies and preserve the freedom prosperity we've fought and sacrificed for while in uniform. it. dan: we did this by educating and mobilizing individual americans to advocate for the policies with their elected officials. and often engaging with the

media campaigns and direct lobbying on capitol hill. in terms of our of our funding for unit the community known as ♪ network. we are funded by hundreds of individual donors across the country. we are very fortunate to have our generous support. >> tell us about your military service and how you ended up working with the veterans for america. dan: so i served in the united states marine corps . to serve for four years in active-duty . my first twowo years i was partf what is known as the presidential support program. so i spent some time and downtown dc that is been about a year and a half almost two years,s, i can't david which isa presidential retreat in maryland to . there i went to the first marine division. and deployed in support of operation iraqi freedom for unit and with them.

i support and actin western iraq . >> so what do you think or what is your groupthink on the biggest issues facing today's veterans . dan: the veteran communities face is one of the same challenges that the population as a whole faces. 104 messages is there are unique challenges in the veteran community faces particularly with getting access to healthcare and other benefits the department of veteran affairs which is a big issue we've engaged on . but were also affected by policies that affect the economy, that affect the country as a whole. for our group, our main focus is on three issues, reforming the department of veterans affairs and i just said, moving the united states towards a better

informed policy one rooted in restraint mean that we deem the world as it is, not necessarily as we wanted to be. and in termst of restraints, te more restrained in the use of military forces we think there's overuse for the past 20 years. and part of that advocating for the into endless wars. and iraq and in syria. and finally we focus on the national park. want to see thatee reducing we think that is our greatest long term national security threat to really three issues were focused onhe for unit not affect just te veterans but the population as a whole point it. >> let's focus on the first think that there. which is reform is a veterans administration party what type of changes would you group like to see done for the veterans administration's party to. dan: what we feel very supportive of some of the reforms that have been implemented in the current hundred president

trump . big supporters of the act which extended healthcare choice forch veterans. again veterans accesset to prive urgent care clinics and more options in the private sector. if they face barriers. and brick-and-mortar medical systems. we also supported the va accountability act which made it easier to fire bad va employees. were also supported othera. initiatives at the va that increases transparency around things like late at times in the cost of healthcare the quality off healthcare when compared to the private sector. these are issues that we've seen a lot of progress of the past four years we think we need to go further. for example, any do veterans need full healthcare choice meaning that they can choose to go to a va healthcare facility or a private healthcare facilitt without any va management or

barriers or access standards that currently exist . we ultimately want to achieve that . and again, is choice, not privatization. to have a good choice and have a also need to have good private sector options . that is really what were going to be focused on is preserving again that we have made the last four years and improving upon them and continuing to grow a place accountability the department of veteran affairs. >> nate anderson said this on president elect biden's choice to lead to the department of veterans affairs bring a ring that same and i want you to react. the current state of veterans healthcare has improved since 2014.y for the focus on the needs of othe veterans as opposed of the needs of the bureaucracy and we encourage the biden administration to continue

important transformations have the department of veterans affairs are not reverse the progress. with omissions of another performs in progress in the current administration. and by committing to theur shard goals and positioning the va to meet the needs of a rapidly changing veterans population we can improve the lives of the veterans day generations come . you must continue to put them ahead of thest institution look forward to working with the next secretary. so what y'all trying to tell incoming va secretary dennis. dan: army message i think what he is trying to get across there is continue to build on the progress is made under the trump and ministration in particular with regards to the va mission packed for unit in the accountability act. mother still a lot of work to be done to implement the va missions act, we want to make

sure biden administration continues that work and not going backwards in terms of reducing healthcare choice for veterans in reducingho accountability for va employees. when they were in 2014 under president obama waited to where it is now, there's been a wide improvement . we really want to work with the biden administration to continue an improvement and continue to grow healthcare choices for veterans anfreighted; reminder viewers tt they can take part in this conversation. going tot t open up special lis for this segment. that means we first want to hear from our veterans. if you'ree a a veteran of our ad forces and you want to take part in this conversation, or opening of a line just for you for unit which is we want to develop 202, 7,488,000 . and if you are at them until he active military ae

currently serving . going to have your own line. i can military we want to hear from u.s. 202-48-8001. if you have not served in our armed forces, you want to talk about this issue . we have not forgottennd you . going 2-202-748-8002 is a veterans, (202)748-8000. active military is a zero zero one and everyone else 8002 . keep in mind you can always text at (202)748-8003 partied were always reading on social media and twitter and cspan and on facebook. and facebook .com/cspan party and dan before we go further. i want you to listen to something that he said. last month on his nomination to be the va secretary. i want you to react to it.

>> men and women of the va targeted any of you veterans yourselves. you worked tirelessly to take care of our veterans. in demanding jobs made even more difficult by the pandemic. to you, into the any dedicated vets service organizations. which include vets, survivors and their families. i look forward to being your partner, one united team in delivering care and support to second to none. and finally, taking care our veterans is not a job for the va alone. every federal department and agency has a role to play. and i will fight like heck to make that happen. payment of 1 percent of americans wear the uniform, and the president of biden, every american will be called upon to embrace our responsibility to support a veterans and military

families. >> will go ahead and react to the incoming secretary dan. dan: first off, i think that the pick of dennis mcdonough pick was very unexpected. and really to be honest, out of left field. i don't think he was on any veterans advocate list. only clear, that's not to say that is unqualified or should not be thisfi va secretary. think is an interesting choice a unemployed possibilities. and even though we disagreed with him a lot under the obama administration, we do want him to be successful. want to partner withuc the va to continue to improve this institution to ensure the veterans the military families, but in any cases the va provides services to non- veterans . mean people don't know that parties also nation emergency healthcare

system parties actually utilized a few times during the pandemic . so i think that what he laid out there wasi good. and i hope that he will partner with groups with veterans for america . that i will say those remarks him there was a lot of policy substance. and it's not entirely clear what the biden administration is going to do in regards to the va accountability act in the missions act . can we hope they embrace those policies. we hope they continue to implement them. and fixed some of the issues that have merged with both over the last year. so we want him to be successful butan if there going to take the va back to where it was 32014, you had the claims act law. the misconduct across the department. and will say when they're doing

the wrong thing interview. so at the risk of being repetitive freighted we want them to be successful and i really hope that he does a good job in the va secretary. >> they were supportive of the veto of the defense policy bill. i just want to read a little bit from others for that veto. the national defense authorizatione act as flood legislation become the vehicle for making political statements rather than sitting defense policy and authorizing funding our armed forces. president trump is justified in vetoing the 2021 and baa because it circumvents executive power and branches of the war power and keeps troops in afghanistan perpetuating in the scores. why was the concern veterans of our america support the

president trump's veto. dan: iti think any the statement lays out her main issues very well . and think biggest issue from us was the provision that attempted to restrict the ability the president to withdraw troops from afghanistan and also from south korea and in germany. we believe it is time to bring all our troops home in afghanistan for you accomplished what we needed to. after 911 long ago in afghanistan. we overturned the taliban did more. we won the war that we needed to but we lost a war that we did not need to fight in particular with regards to trying to build a liberal democratic society within afghanistan. s with regard, that is been remain focus. we need to do what we need to do to keep america safe there. in this provision that was written by representative cheney

and jason crow argued that a colorado. and they're trying to force the president to keep sending the troops to die in afghanistan permission it is nonessential for national security. likewise the restrictions on trying to remove troops from south korea and germany, but is sending a message to the wealthy companies that you can continue to underinvest in your own security and the united states will send you no matter what party just creates the wrong information and restrict certain military ability to focus on the threats of the future. in the foreign policy issues but also theic domestic policy issus as well. also he said overall national defense authorization act really does something substantial to try to reduce the raced in the military. or to try to reduce spending.

was no longer needed in our military. it really makes it harder the military to focus on the threats of the future. so we think the veto was more than four intended freighted we are disappointed to see it overridden of the house and the senate with the senate taking is about yesterday. >> rliz let some of our viewers take part in the conversation . rick from fort wayne, indiana. and he is a veteran party and it did good morning. i just wanted to call in. have a local va here in fort wayne. i just wanted to give him a thumbs up for the great medical care they have given me. i've been in there two or three times to have different procedures done . and everything

is been top shelf. way better than i expected it would be. everybody there has a great attitude . ended is contagious. and somebody who uses the va, i wanted to express my opinion. >> go ahead and respond that dan dan: that is fantastic. i've been very critical at but have to acknowledge that in any cases, probably most cases that the va provides great healthcare to our veterans. the majority of the veterans that we call actually who use the va, like their health care they received through the agency. our concern is that there are significant numberhe of veterans who do not receive good health care from the va. the second the va healthcare facility and do not have full healthcare choice. as i discussed earlier, it is

greatly improved, to have more healthcare choices. with their siblings to be improvement there. we want to show that the veterans have a choice between a strong va and private sector options for unit. >> what would you, what kind of job do you think the outgoing section areas on . dan: i think you have to divide up his tenure. before this year, i think he was doing a good job. however this year, i thank you so performance has been frankly terrible. there's really no other way to describe it. the leadership of the va suspended in any cases access to community care for the va mission act. which restricted access to in the middle of a pandemic. i think i heard thee va and also hurt any private sector care providers.

it deprives them of a customer base at a time when any of them were struggling to keep the doors open. and then in addition, you have this recent inspector general report and informed that the secretary had cleared the veteran through and made some accusations against the va. excuse me, gives an individual at the washington general va in terms of sexual assault in his behavior . it was just unacceptable. and we were strong supporters of the secretary but have been very disappointed in his performance over the last year. >> let's go back to ourst phone lines and talk to him read was calling from cedar park, texas. goodwh morning. >> good morning and happy new year. and it is nice to talk to you again. i agree, 100 percent of everything you're saying. i just want to add ask you what

you think aboutas this. i can imagine healthcare system where one health care what america. ysthis like this virus . one vis we all need to be in the spring were so big and printable now over so big and i've had several surgeries. i can't we have one healthcare and not freak out and think it is socialism or just the national health, work may be the military and all budgets go towards your training. train the youth to be doctors and nurses and it just takes her and yelled run that for unit in the money that we turn safe for for customer healthcare. like one america one healthcare system and everybody is there rights and social security and that weit can play them how good your healthcare could be. scattered russian but it has to be. and they can have their expensive surgeries. make it one healthcare and one

america. we can go in and not have to stress over health care . that take care of your drug addictions. >> i hadn't responded . dan: i understand with the caller saying. but i would just say that going to universal healthcare system where it's like what you have, i don't think that would be good for the united states. ... ...

the ability to go to help with the va isn't in a timely manner. it shows us why we shouldn't move toward universal healthcare systems. i think the best way is to remove burdens and competition get out of the way and ultimately get a better and cheaper healthcare system for all americans. >> we have a question for you. there are organizations that advocate for or is this privatization? >> who do not support this will

displace. we have a choice in the department, the va to make a good choice but not the only choice. it's different than privatization of va integrated healthcare system. >> in, he asked this. >> good morning, i'm a member of the veterans bureau 197. we have service officers during the trump administration officers in this. i have a question for dan.

what is having a nonveteran in f this as head of the veterans ministration? >> i think that having someone in the va, i think it is natural but i think it shouldn't disqualify them from being part of the va. it's an organization, a provider for veterans, designed to be a tistem for the whole united states and like i said earlier, several times during this epidemic. i do think being a veteran does

help you have better connection to the veteran community and with families living on nonveteran shouldn't disqualify you. her experience as chief of sta staff, it equips in certainta ws in that role but doesn't guarantee success. i would say is helping manage response in the scandal which the obama administration did not handle that well. my thought is that he's learned about. the failure of the obama administration, these are lessons to the va and hopefully will improve. these are veteran americans and ultimately, i do want to hear

more about what he thinks of station in the va accountability act. ultimately, the fact that everybody at the va is successful and that will. >> the ultimate day of thehe one 17th day of, what is for the next congress? >> i think the key priority for the last fewng congress is, it s the, the foreign national defense more restrained also in iraq and syria, in addition, we don't want to see anymore massive spending bills that continue to add four national debt. ) and national security.

regards to the va, we are going to be focused on preserving the mission act and ensuring lamenting foreign policy ensuring that congress and t executive branch are allowing american forces from afghanistan during this time last year between calvin want to see a repeal of the 20012002 half authorizations thousand one was passed (11 and authorized in afghanistan to go after it's been used to justify military action around the world and it's been going over through them the

same obviously was a disaster foreign policy decision and that authorization as well as been abused, too. we want to see those fields so that congress can restore a massive production department become more focused and not i adding to the national that. we would like to see spending more efficient spending the department of veterans affairs organization, which is now spending upwards of $250 billion a year even though the veteran population is shrinking, the organization better serving both the american taxpayer focused on we are going to release a full

legislative agenda in the coming weeks for the new congress and expect to socially new members ofti congress will be educating them and what we do in america a policy agenda. >> i want to remind our viewers that you can see how much of opening day of the one 17th congress right here on c-span, see special starting tomorrow noon eastern. once again, a member tomorrow noon eastern, you can see the opening day of the one 17th congress. dan, military times has looked at the one 17th congress and noticed a number of veterans. the numbers in military times has posted for the number of veterans in the one 17th congress. ninety-one veterans, 17 in the senate, 74 in the house.

according to the moon. times, that's the lowest number since world war two. what you think that says. >> i think that many reflection of the shrinking veteran population. primarily a result of the passing away of world war ii and korea and vietnam era veteran population. our veteran population grew so large because our military grew significantly during world war ii, who haven't bought it more will receive 15 million men and women in uniform and we are veteran population will shrink. i think congress, in general this is tentative of the american public, not perfectly in terms of professional experience and other forms of diversity but still it reflects the population shouldn't be surprising smaller veteran population overall that we have

fewer veterans in congress. i was just say i think veterans status is a good thing for elected representatives, i think it connects more to what our military does the experiences our service members go through especially over seas but it shouldn't be a requirement for somebody to be elected to office. the veterans doesn't necessarily make a better representative. arfor example, representative duncan, who just recently went, he's a marine veteran you committed crimes involving his personal campaign account is a pilot, defense contractors.

their status is clearly in those cases, didn't make them better numbers. personally, i think veteran status is a positive person i would prefer a nonveteran advocate for good policy consistently takes votes over a veteran continue to vote the wrong way on important legislation and makes our country less prosperous and secure. >> some of the veterans calling in, we'll start with matthew from deplaned illinois. this morning. >> like to say i love the show, the intelligence. i enjoy watching but my question is a better, for advancement to the medical field secretary will pick will bring into the va and,

the talk of russia targeting service members and veterans will be safe as veterans from online fraud for such? as former assistant to the president for national security and senior director of the national security council, what he implement,ll and situation? >> go ahead and respond. >> is only going to be in his role one of the 19 days. i think the better question is going to be confirmed. the va has been a leader in several fields regarding better healthcare and hopefully that continue to make a targeting, i

think that there are a lot of bad actors associated with country or they are associated to target and veterans. the question is what will play in that still up for debate, what i don't want to see the government and even more power in regulating and social media, i think that would ultimately be detrimental in the long term to having a free and open debate, a good marketplace of ideas and also allowing veterans to take an act one another.