certain agencies are two left wing. they think there's a a bunch f people in the government that are too busy like carrying o much about i do know healthcare or women's equality or like children's mental health or i don't know what is considered woke and not because i feel like with the tragic plane crash last week that those words died. those words are now devoid of meaning. what in hell does it mean to say dei caused the plane crashed? that was just something -- >> we believe this but you can finish watching it online@ourwebsitec-span.org. life now c-span.org. life now to capitol hill where lawmakers will consider president trump's cabinet nominees including confirmation of the college to be the secretary of veterans affairs. live senate coverage is here on c-span2. order. our chaplain, dr. black, will open the senate with prayer.

the chaplain: let us pray. eternal lord god in whose life we find our life, today hold our senators within your providential hands. lord, guide them when they feel perplexed and empower them with faith to meet every obstacle. infuse them with courage and keep them close to you as they seek to represent you, fill them with your peace. do for them what they cannot accomplish in their own strength. give them a new delight for

mundane matters, a new patience with difficult people and a new zest for unfinished details. let your spirit rule in their lives. we pray in your merciful name. amen. the president pro tempore: join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

the presiding officer: under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. the senate will resume consideration of the following nomination which the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, department of justice, pamela bondi, of florida, to be attorney general. mr. grassley: mr. president. the presiding officer: the president pro tempore. mr. grassley: first a very short unanimous consent request for detail east to be -- detail ees to be on the floor with me. unanimous consent that sam -- i'm sorry -- sam rouie and ivan

benchech, two detailees in my office be granted floor privileges. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. grassley: i come to the floor to speak about the nominee for the secretary of veterans' affairs that we'll be voting on in a couple of hours. i have long considered myself a friend of veterans. the men and women who have put themselves in harm's way to serve our country, they deserve our full support, and they have mine. too often, i hear from veterans in iowa that the department of veterans' affairs makes it difficult for them to access health care and the services that they -- that we honor them with because they have defended our country. whether this is expecting them to drive an unnecessary distance for their initial disability exam or making it more difficult

to seek the care that they choose outside of the v.a. system, our veterans deserved much better. the v.a. needs to do better, which brings me to former representative doug collins, president trump's nominee to be secretary of veterans' affairs. representative collins, a veteran himself, recognizes the challenges veterans face with the v.a. during his time in the house of representatives, he was a supporter of giving veterans the choice on where to seek health care. he and i agree that the v.a. needs to do better by our veterans and taxpayers alike. this became more obvious to the public last year when the v.a.

misled congress by claiming the department was going to face a shortfall in funding, but in fact ended the fiscal year with a surplus, can you believe this, in the billions. when i heard about this alleged shortfall, i joined my colleagues, led by the junior senator from alaska, to work to bring more transparency to the v.a. budget process. as i shared with representative collins, i will continue to do so. when i -- when we first met in my office, i gave representative collins my advice that i give to every nominee coming to the office because these people come before the committee and one of the questions they're asked, will you answer our letters? and they all say yes, but we know, as a matter of fact, that doesn't happen as often as it

should. so i suggested to him that maybe instead of saying yes, he say maybe so he wouldn't turn out to be a liar ever. unlike the former secretary of v.a., who did not feel the need to respond to even a bipartisan letter that i sent in october of 2024, alongside three of my colleagues before that secretary departed from his post. now representative collins understands the importance of being accountable and forthcoming to congress because he has been a member of congress. so i thank representative collins for his service to our country and i look forward to voting positively on his nomination. i yield the floor, and i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.

the clerk: ms. alsobrooks. quorum call: the clerk: ms. alsobrooks.

power a little over now. what would you say is his

approach. >> that's a pretty big question because there are things going on at once. executive orders to establish themes and programs he talked about in the campaign giving directives to executive agencies to line them up along his loc objectives and perhaps spark action but there are other executive actions that raise serious questions and/or chance to follow up on a lead given by the supreme court so in some sense exact executive orders so

there are some there and some are more controversial than others. >> is that the case? >> i have this -- sorry, i'm just trying -- >> i have this question but i'm not talking about the executive community decisions. i'd like to highlight cases called removal power. people have noticed the president doing arguably unusual things as far as will removal but i don't think they grasped a direct connection between what the court has been doing since roberts been in there and zero five and what president trump is following up on or pushing the envelope.

removal cases in 2020. >> elaborate when it comes to removal cases, where has the president applied his power? >> i also should have said cases relate to the important concept which we hear about in the bush to administration for quite a while. pushing the idea that the president should have sole control of the executive branch -- mr. thune: mr. president, later today the senate will vote on the nomination of pam bondi to serve as attorney general. ms. bondi is an experienced prosecutor who was a tenacious lawyer tough on crime.

in her 18 years as a state prosecutor in florida's hillsboro county, she worked with law enforcement, visited crime scenes and spent countless hours in the courtroom. those who know her have spoken of her toughness and skill as a prosecutor. they've also spoken of her character, of her willingness to work with anyone to solve a problem and of her deep commitment to the victims of crimes and their families. in 20 # 1, pam bondi became florida's first attorney general. at that time so-called pill mills were a major problem. on the campaign trail ms. bondi would hear heartbreaking stories of addiction and loss and families would give her photos of loved ones lost to the scourge of drugs. as attorney general she filled her office with those photos and got to work. she worked with the florida

legislature to pass a bill to crack down on the pill mills, which our colleague, then-governor rick scott, signed into law. that was the start. she tracked issues like human trafficking worked with counterparts in other states regardless of the other party. she is committed -- mr. president, in recent years, many americans have lost faith in the justice department. they've seen federal prosecutors go after pro-life activists while attacks against churches have gone unprotected. there was attorney general garland's memo targeting parents who attended school board meetings and another memo suggesting that traditional catholics could be violent extremists. mr. president, the american people should be able to trust that the department of justice is not targeting americans based

on political opinions or religious beliefs. pam bondi has promised to get the department back to its core mission, ebb prosecuting crime and i look forward to confirming her later today. mr. president, the senate will also soon vote on the nomination of -- the senate will also vote on scott turner to be secretary of housing and urban development. this is a big role. this affects cities, rural, tribal lands, every part of our country. higher construction costs and burdensome regulations made home-building challenging. what homes are on the market are too pricey for many americans. many parts of the country have homelessness challenges. too many distressed communities are struggling to turn their fortunes around. despite a windfall of additional funding for hud, these problems are, in many cases, getting worse. fortunately, mr. president, president trump has nominated

someone to lead housing and urban development who knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity. scott turner grew up in plano, in richardson, texas, in challenging circumstances, but he was determined to achieve the american dream. at 10, he told his mother he would play professional football. with a lot of determination and hard work, he graduated from the university of illinois and was drafted to play in the nfl. in the 2003 offseason, a time he could have used to take a break, this nfl athlete was interning in a congressional office, and since he hung up his cleats scott turner spent his time working to make a difference. that's included founding an organization to help children in poverty, serving as a texas state legislator, and helping to lead the white house opportunity and revitalization counsel during the first trump administration. mr. president, the 2017 republican tax relief legislation did a lot to help revitalize the economy.

one of the things it did was create the opportunity zone program championed by our colleague, senator tim scott. it was scott turner who oversaw this program for the white house, visiting opportunity zones across the country to revitalize america's distressed communities. i'm confident he will bring that same concern for distressed areas to his work as secretary. mr. president, president trump has made it clear we are going to be building things in america again. one of those things we're going to be building is communities. it's a big job, but scott turner has the grit, the determination, and passion to get it done. i look forward to working with him on this important mission. mr. president, i yield the floor, and i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. alsobrooks.

[inaudible conversations] we are meeting today to consider nomination of robert f kennedy junior.

we are still waiting to get our members here and will proceed with statements and we will rotate one side to the other prepare for the vote to confirm, the opportunity to deliver change to our nation's healthcare system. he spent his career letting the epidemic and advocate for transparency. mr. kennedy responded to questions during the process and in the course of 900 questions by the committee.

mr. is going beyond what's required. i will vote in favor of his nomination and i strongly encourage both sides. >> i'll have a brief statement and several colleagues are going to make statements. we are going to vote on kennedy's nation to serve as our chief healthcare officer. why i believe he is regularly unfit to serve, i'd like to say this. the last several days we witnessed authoritarian over the

federal government by elon musk and donald trump. they set their sights on a full purge of anyone in government doesn't follow their order. they've taken over the payment system and that has a direct effect on major programs within jurisdictions including social security, medicare and medicaid this committee voted for major reform of legislation. think what they could do with abuse of the payments lies and

faith of congressional responsibility. i hope our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will not sit by while mike and trump make a mockery of the republican polls the american state up to these abuses. a recent analysis shows mr. kennedy has made 114 separate appearances in the last four years spread information about the efficacy of vaccines. misinformation specifically. thirty-six of those vaccines to

autism and he's given ample authority can't his decade-long career instead, he it is time no indication been confirmed stand by the side surrounding routine vaccination. take the measles outbreak as an example. mr. kennedy told me, we don't know what was telling them. eighty-three death during an outbreak in 2019. just yesterday the director general of health called the claim total application and it will be deadly across the

country. on abortion this raises even more questions. finally follow directive from donald trump to break the law and access and he seemed to have no understanding and enforcing federal law guarantees women's rights to lifesaving abortion care. mr. kennedy failed on several occasions to show basic understanding of medicare and medicaid programs. that alone disqualifying. rubberstamp healthcare away from the american people and i guess man order like donald trump did today we are going to make a

judgment of the future of sciences we are going to have this for years to come. the healthcare status quo stamp from beginner better affordable care patients and that leaves the question what do senators want their legacy to disregarding basic health science and instead elevate spear see theorists? this would be a great to the health of the american people and i urge my colleagues to vote no.

>> we have our members here will have two or three on the side so while we have both statements. >> i've got several colleagues under the impression we have two or three. >> i did make that commit so i can say my colleagues pulled her remarks until after we will do a

couple on your site have remarks and then proceed to the vote. >> great. >> when you sit two or three people, i did know who you had in mind. i appreciate the city. today is concerning to me operating in many ways like a shadow government. here's what i said, i said, quote, doge is not a real government agency, quote, doge has no authority to make spending decisions, quote, doge has no authority to shut programs down or ignore federal law. doge's conduct, i said, cannot be allowed to stand. congress must take action to

restore the rule of law. his response? here's what musk said, quote, hysterical reactions like this is how you know that doge is doing work that really matters, and that, quote, this is the one shot american people have to defeat bureaucracy and restore demo democracy. give me a break. nothing screams democracy like having a secret squad of company men pull off a hostile takeover of america's social security and tax information in the dead of night? that's democracy? no openness? no hearings? no discussion? no hearing the other side? from a small group of limited people, who have limited background, who probably don't even know about the programs they're cutting and how they actually work. whatever doge is doing, it is certainly not, not what democracy looks like or has ever

looked like in the grand history of this country. because democracy does not work in the shadows. democracy does not skirt the rule of law. democracy does not shun accountability and restraint, does not run away from transparency but welcomes it, and does not give privilege to the needs, and even the ideas, of a small group of ultra wealthy people at the expense of working people. they're they're the only people who seem to be in the room to make the decisions. working class americans are excluded. are excluded. now, reform is a worthy cause to seek. no question about it. everyone agrees and everyone should agree that we should find ways to improve the effectiveness. we should find ways to improve the efficiency of government. but you know what history shows?

when it's done in the dark of night by a very limited group of people of limited experience, it never works. when ideas are not brought into context, when people have different views, when there's not debate, when there's not openness, when there's not transparency, things always get messed up. it leads to very bad results, and yet that's just what doge is doing. they know better than everybody else. certainly they're entitled to have their viewpoint. certainly. but to just do things in the dark of night, to just fire people without even talking to them, what they do, what their needs are, makes no sense -- and, again -- is going to lead to bad results. we should talk about reform, but we should talk about it the way

it's always been demon america -- in the -- been done in america -- in the halls of congress. that's what the founding fathers wanted. if the founding fathers were to be like dole, a small group of them -- like doge, a small group of them would get together and dictate what should be done. they didn't. they set up a congress. they set up debate. and the american people, mark my words, the american people will not stand for an unelected, secret group to run rampant through the executive branch. being innovative is good but mr. musk, this is not a tech start yum. these are public institutions that deal with things like social security and medicare and national defense and provide for the well-being of the american people. and the american people have a right to be part of that debate. part of that debate.

the elections occurred. and one viewpoint, got a few more votes than the other, but that doesn't mean we throw out democracy. that doesn't mean what's been done for centuries in this country should just go out the window and be substituted by a small group of people who think they know a lot more than the wisdom of the american people. so that is why this week, leader jeffries and i will join together to push legislation to prevent unlawful meddling in the treasury department's payment systems, to prevent everyone's records from being made available to a small group of people who can look at them at will when this has always been kept secret and always been protected, your tax returns and your payment systems and things

like that. it affects average americans. and who knows, maybe next they'll say let's slash all of this stuff. that's when they seem to want to do in their $2.5 million desire to cut government. we must protect people's social security payments, their medicare payments, their tax refunds from any possible tampering by doge or any other unauthorized entity, and that's why leader jeffries and i will join together to push this legislation. i yield the floor. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. alsobrooks.

drug prices are down and set of

pharmaceutical companies getting adult in the room and do this right will reduce the cost of bringing vaccine to market. the supply chain is no help professional, he's the first i believe since i've been alive. in a healthcare professional in the scientific sense but he is in terms of carrying this forward and holding them accountable through the court and i'm not going to go much longer but i had people call me earlier concerns that i'm not aware of any organized and mr. kennedy expressed their concerns.

and they are silent confirmation. they were mad and sad but there's no organized opposition against it so maybe it is time to have it there and it's a very important question and it

deterred me and in the future oversight hearing. we have not made progress. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. barrasso: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, the justice department needs a leader, a leader who has the qualifications, the experience, the determination, and the moral clarity to keep our nation safe. florida attorney general pam bondi is that leader. she has my vote and my vocal support. the attorney general is america's top prosecutor. the role should be filled by an experienced prosecutor. well, attorney general bondi has prosecution experience, a lot of it. she spent almost 30 years as a criminal prosecutor and then a state attorney general. she has more trial experience than any modern day u.s. attorney general.

attorney general bondi is the most experienced career criminal prosecutor ever to be america's chief law enforcement officer. she is ready to lead on day one. in north dakota attorney general bondi prosecuted a range of violent crimes and criminals. she locked up the worst of the worst for the worst offenses of the her signature achievements were in fighting illegal drugs and in fighting human trafficking. when she first became florida's attorney general in 2011, the state was overrun with things known as pill mills. they were operations that were running to sell opioids. pam shut them down. she locked up the drug dealers. she pushed for stronger laws. and she stopped the spread of synthetic opioids. under her leadership, florida led the fight against this deadly epidemic. attorney general bondi also

prosecuted victims of human trafficking in florida. she pledged to make human trafficking an area for her to combat. it was a top priority at her justice department in florida. she's a fierce advocate for safety and she is a skilled leader. the department of justice is a huge agency. it controls 40 separate organizations. it employs more than 115,000 people. it oversees all 94 u.s. attorneys across the country. leading the doj is an enormous undertaking. pam bondi is up to the challenge. the florida attorney general's office is one of the largest in the nation. it handles a broad scope of civil and criminal investigations, just like the u.s. department of justice. she led that office effectively and efficiently and she will do

the same thing now as attorney general. and she has received overwhelming support from all across the country. more than a hundred former senior doj officials wrote a letter to the judiciary committee in support of pam bondi. here's what they said about her track record. quote, it shows the no nonsense law and order, pro-law enforcement approach that she will bring to the department of justice. that's their quote. the fraternal order of police also urged the senate to confirm pam bondi. this is an organization of over more than 377,000 members of law enforcement. she's also earned the support of second amendment advocates. u.s. attorney general pam bondi will stand in stark contrast to the prior administration's justice department. the previous administration gave

us two tiers of justice. it labelled parents as domestic terrorists when they attended school board meetings. it brought charms against pro-life -- charges against pro-life protesters, threw them in prison. it worked with left-wing judges and prosecutors to try to throw president trump in jail. that's what we had in the last administration. this doesn't even begin to get into the russiagate hoax or covering up for hunter biden. in those cases we saw rogue federal agents try to subvert the democratic process. at her hearing before the judiciary committee, attorney general bondi promised a different path. instead of playing politics, pam bondi pledged to enforce the law fairly, fully, and faithfully. and she said in her opening statement she will hurn the department of -- return the department of justice to its core mission of keeping americans safe and vigorously,

vigorously enforcing the law. her commitment to the constitution, to public safety, and equal justice under the law is exactly what our nation needs today. the partisan, politicized and polarizing prosecutions are now over. pam bondi will usher in a new era of safety, of sanity, and of justice. she has my vote to be the u.s. attorney general. mr. president, on another matter, today the senate is going to confirm former congressman doug collins. congressman collins is the nominee to be the secretary of veterans affairs. caring for our veterans is a top priority for president trump and republicans. as abraham lincoln famously spoke, our nation has a duty to care for him who shall have borne the battle. that's why i'm glad that president trump has nominated congressman collins. congressman collins knowswhat it means to be a veteran because he

is a veteran, as are you, mr. president. he deployed to iraq as a military chaplain. he visited wounded servicemembers in the hospital. he prayed for them. he comforted them. in congress, congressman collins continued to serve our veterans. he received bipartisan support from the senate veterans affairs committee. the vote was 18 in favor and only one opposed. looking at his record, it's obvious why. congressman collins will . improve veterans' access to care, not get in the way. he will address the alarming rate of veterans suicide and home hefsness, as he told the committee, we will not stop until we succeed on behalf of the men and women who have worn the uniform doug collins will serve with duty and devotion. he has my full support.

thank you, mr. president, and i yield the floor. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

law professor talk about executive power. thank you for giving us your

time to make them happy to be here. >> we seen power of a little over a week now. what would you say is his approach? >> that's a pretty big question because there are several things going on at once. in one sense, president trump is executive orders to establish themes and programs talked about in the campaign giving directives to agencies to line them up along his policy objectives and spark some action. and by the supreme court.

in exercising to executive orders so they are similar there and some are more controversial than others. >> in the united states. >> at this reporters not talking about executive communities. unfit to highlight full power. the president is doing so arguably unusual. mr. cassidy: mr. president, i'd like to make a statement -- are

we in a quorum call? the presiding officer: yes. mr. cassidy: i ask that the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. cassidy: mr. president, i'd like to make a statement regarding my vote in committee to -- on behalf of robert f. kennedy to be secretary of hhs. first i think everyone who has contacted me over the last few days, almost all have been respectful and seek the best for our country. i have been contacted by text, phone, and e-mail. if i didn't respond to anyone, it's not to be rude, it's just i was getting hundreds of messages a day personally and thousands through the office and i just physically could not. mr. president, believe it or hot, of these hundreds of people calling or kakting me -- contacting me, many of them disagree with each other three

dimensionally, they disagreed. the unifying factor is they all sdooir the best for -- desire the best for our country even though they differ from each other so much, and maybe that kind of frames my feelings about this nomination. for context, before entering politics, before even thinking about running for political office, i practiced medicine for 30 years in a public hospital for the uninsured, caring for those who otherwise would not have been able to afford the access for care that i provided. after seeing people die from vaccine-related diseases i dedicated my time with vaccine dedicated programs and monitoring the effectiveness of vaccines. vaccines save lives. this is something -- this is something that concerned me with

robert f. kennedy to be the secretary of health and human services. this is something i took very seriously, and as i said i would, i spoke with mr. kennedy not once, but multiple times over the weekend including this morning. we had in-depth conversations about the medical literature, about the science behind the safety of vaccines, i reviewed and spoke to those who he said i should speak to. the most notable of opponents of mr. kennedy were peed trigsz on the front lines of our children's health who regularly have to combat misinformation. combating vaccine skepticism with correct information. correct information that comes from their indication -- education, their training and experience as pediatricians, they are aware of the falling

vaccine rates and the hospitalizations and deaths from children from vaccine-preventible diseases. children are contracting diseases that they would not have contracted if the child was vaccinated. others are looking at the need to address chemicals in our food and that we are victims of the forces maximizing profits while sacrificing our health. there is evidence for that. although food safety is principally a food and drug administration. others fear an environmental risk. mr. kennedy's history of of environmental activism motivates their support. i pointed out that the environmental protection agency monitors this, not the department of health and human services, but they still feel he can make a difference. so as i looked how to resolve

this i returned to where i began, would it be possible to have mr. kennedy collaborate in helping public health agencies reearn the trust of the american people? how, regarding vaccines, mr. kennedy has been insistent that he wants good science and ensure safety. but on this topic, the science is good, the science is credible. vaccines save lives, they are safe. they do not cause autism. there are multiple studies that show this. they are a crucial part of our nation's public health spobs. as someone who discussed immu a anizations can -- immu anyonizations, many need to be assured it is safe. robert f. kennedy has issues with reformering nih, it leads back to vaccines. mr. kennedy and the

administration reached out seeking to reassure me regarding their commitment to protecting the public health benefit of vaccination. to this end, mr. kennedy and the administration committed that he and i would have an unprecedentedly close collaborative working relationship if he is confirmed. we will meet or speak multiple times be a month. this collaboration will allow us to work well together and therefore to be more effective. mr. kennedy asked for my input into hiring position at health and human services and this will allow us to represent all sides of those folks who are contacting me over this past weekend chth he has also -- weekend. he has committed that he has worked with current vaccine and monitoring systems and not established parallel systems. if confirmed, he will maintain

the centers for disease control advisory committee on recommendations without changes. cdc will not remove statements on their website, pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism. mr. kennedy and the administration also committed that this administration will not use the subversive techniques used under the biden administration like sue and settle to change policies enacted by congress without first going through congress. mr. kennedy and the administration committed to a strong role of congress, aside from he and i meeting regularly, he will come before the help committee on a regular basis. he said that the help committee chair may choose someone -- if confirmed, there will be a 30-day notice to the help committee if the agency seeks to make changes to any of our

vaccine safety monitoring programs and the help committee will have an option to call a hearing to further review. these commitments and my expectation that we can have a great working relationship to make america healthy again is the basis of my support. he'll be the secretary, but i believe he will also be a partner in working for this end. if mr. kennedy is confirmed, i will use my chairman to rebuff any removal of lifesaving vaccines without ironclad scientific evidence that can be accepted and defended before the mainstream scientific community and before congress. i will watch carefully for any effort wrongly sow public

fear about vaccines between confusing references of coincidence and anecdote. my support is built on insurances that this will not have to be a concern and that he and i can work together to build an agenda to make america healthy again many we need a -- again. we need a letter at hhs who will guide president trump's agenda to make america healthy again. based on mr. kennedy's assurance on vaccines and his platform to positively influence america's health, it is my consideration that he will get this done. as i've said, it's been a long and tense process. but i've assessed as i would assess a patient as a physician. ultimately restoring trust in our public health institution is too important and i think mr. kennedy help get that done. as chairman of the senate

committee with oversight authority of his position, i will do my best to make sure that is what we accomplish. i want mr. kennedy to succeed in making america healthy again. his success will be tied to the health of our nation. he has the opportunity to address the most pertinent issues affecting americans' health. we also need to reform institutions like fda and nih and those as have already been indicated are my priorities as chairman of the help committee. i look forward to his support in accomplishing it. if confirmed, i look forward to working together with mr. kennedy to achieve president trump's mission of improving the help of all americans. and with that, i yield. .

mr. moran: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from kansas. mr. moran: mr. president, i ask if we're in a quorum call. the presiding officer: we are not. mr. moran: thank you, mr. president. i'm here this morning, now this

afternoon, because in just a few moments we will be asked to make a decision as to whether or not congressman doug collins should be confirmed as the next secretary of veterans affairs. i am speaking today to encourage my colleagues to make that happen. i believe caring for the men and women who have served our nation in uniform, and for their loved ones they leave behind and for their families, is one of our nation's most sacred obligations. we owe those who served all that they are entitled to and perhaps more. i remember making a commitment when i was in high school to express my gratitude and respect for those in uniform. i never envisioned being a united states chairman -- excuse me, i never envisioned being a united states senator, and now the chairman of the senate committee on veterans affairs, where our responsibilities are greater than just respect and

grat feud -- gratitude. that's certainly important. but now we're here to make certain all the promises we made to those who served are kept. i want a v.a. secretary who understands the v.a.'s mission. i want a secretary who will put veterans first. i want a secretary who recognizes the v.a.'s importance in serving veterans and contributing to a safe and successful future for our nation. the success they had in uniform, i want them to have that success as a veteran, as a civilian, as a citizen. congressman collins is that person. through his own service, which continues in the air force reserve, congressman collins knows firsthand service in the uniform and he knows the benefits and challenges that veterans face and the challenges their families face. in his testimony before the senate committee on veterans affairs, he demonstrated a significant understanding of the policies he will be expected to

administer at the department of veterans affairs, and proved to me and to others that he is prepared to lead the v.a. into the future. he is committed to working closely with members of congress, and certainly the senate committee on veterans affairs, and to make sure that our input is understood, taken into account, and hopefully implemented. his nomination was reported out of the committee in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner, on a roll call vote, the vote was 18-1. i'm thankful for congressman collins' interest in serving in this capacity. i ask my colleagues to support his nomination. and i look forward to working with him to improve the lives of veterans, caregivers, survivors, and military families. mr. president, with that, i yield the floor, but before i do, i ask that the vote scheduled at 12:15 occur immediately. the presiding officer: without

objection. under the briefs order previous -- under the previous order, the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, department of veterans affairs, douglas collins, of georgia, to be secretary. the presiding officer: the question son the -- the question is on the nomination. mr. moran: i ask for the yeas and nays. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the clerk will call the roll. vote: the clerk: ms. alsobrooks. ms. baldwin. mr. banks. mr. barrasso. mr. bennet. mrs. blackburn. mr. blumenthal. ms. blunt rochester. mr. booker. mr. boozman. mrs. britt. mr. budd. ms. cantwell. mrs. capito. mr. cassidy. ms. collins. mr. coons. mr. cornyn. ms. cortez masto. mr. cotton. mr. cramer. mr. crapo. mr. cruz. mr. curtis.

mr. daines. ms. duckworth. mr. durbin. ms. ernst. mr. fetterman. mrs. fischer. mr. gallego. mrs. gillibrand. mrs. gillibrand. i'm honored to be sitting here to be nominated for the next sector of the v.a. i want to think my friend kevin cramer for the kind introduction. i appreciate his work and your work as well. i thank him for that. i would like to thank president trump for his nomination and his willingness to have not on the veterans of this country. i'm privileged today and appreciate the chairman and ring them mentioning my family because i would not view without them. my wife of 36 years is with me lisa. i have my son copeland, his wife

your guide my son cameron and his fiancée. and then on the one of the quizzes altogether and that is jordan. she is our daughter. also on the public is watching what no of the list of a didn't mention, my 86-year-old 86-year-old father who spent 31 years as a as a georgia ste trooper. bad, i'm here because of you and mom. and i love you. america's greatest nation on earth. its grace nation i believe because of many women who serve it it's a minute when that is certain what is to take the step up to protect the freedoms we hold so dear. throughout my decades of service i witnessed this firsthand. watch many women go at the best even when they didn't want to and they serve. they stood up for our freedoms. they earn the benefits of being in in a great veterans assistant. the v.a. is there for them. in addition to being a navy veteran i have now been in the united states air force for over 23 years.

i'm a colonel serving and i been able to watch over the years leadership, leadership is about listening but also about leaving. it's about taking a minute women you serve with and making sure you are putting their needs first. when any military it's about the mission. for me if i'm confirmed the v.a. will be my mission. it would be the mission to take care of her veterans and make sure they get the benefits that they deserve. i'm going to -- i met iraq war veteran.n. i understand burn pits because i slept next one for many months. i understand this generation that went for time and time again in a different way than we've seen many times before in her past wars and the needs that they have. but also being that i think i bring something that is unique to this position almost since it became a cabinet position, the first member of this field house was in and to serve if confirmed

by this body which brings a different perspective to my service here. over the years we've all had our body, differences in his body and ranking member i appreciate with differences but we can agree because i have worked across this file to pass major legislation thanks to president trump and this body we passed the first that at giving criminal justice reform in the house. the modernization act which senator cramer mentioned, thesee are the things that make big differences when you cross and get good ideas. for me it's about having respect to the members, respect for this committee and that is what i believe this committee is one of the bipartisan here. because also i believe we have a lot more in common with on both sides of this committees eyes. we believe time axis and care for veterans for every eligible person. we're supposed to reach out information act provide that

template we passed here that i was part of passing. the v.a. caledonian whistleblower protection act which passed by this body nancy that holds veterans workers and workers who touch her veterans to the isa standards possible. i will will tell you now the veterans of v.a. will not have a stronger fighter for the employees in the workforce than this sector if confirmed and also one that will make sure were held accountable because good work because good work and others need to be held accountable we will do that to make sure we get the best. the pass act which was mentioned something i think we're still developing and making sure everybody gets treatment. just past the elizabeth dole act something to look at next. as we look at this i bring one thing that will require your help, require our mission. i bring to you today to things that will be at the forefront of my service. these are my dog tags. they are reminder like every other veterans who served a part of the bigger unit. i bring this bracelet it was

made for me by a young mammon keeping watch these each night i go by and talk him flightline chaplet and she said one night she said i've got something for you and she ran back into a guard shack and came up with this since it are always bring as something i want to you something. what she didn't know was now about 15 years later if confirmed by this body this bracelet will be sitting in the secretary of the v.a.'s office reminding me every day of the men and women that we serve. with that, mr. chairman, i yield back. >> congressman collects thank you for your testimony. we'll have a round of questions. i'll start and then ask a a ce questions and then yield to the ranking member. it would be unexpected if i didn't open my question of you in regard to the mission act. i was involved in the creation of choice act. we then attended improve it make it more certain with the mission

act and my views are highly framed by my mighty assessmef the house of representatives and which have represent a congressional district the size of the state of illinois with no v.a. hospital. i care about world and the distance those world veterans face. i want to ask, if confirmed would you make certain that the letter and spirit of the mission act is followed by every employee in every v.a. facility and that the veterans are aware of the rights to advocate for themselves and receive care when they needed where they want it? [inaudible] >> mr. chairman, as we had come in a few years off, i forget to push my buttons. okay. as we spoke in your office there's a great asset and will you get at the issue of whether the eight exist. the v.a. does not exist in and of itself did exist for the better. exist and that is what over the

past ten to 15 years and this body the mission act was passed and the intent was to make sure that in the delivery of services to the veteran is first and foremost. you have veteran services that are being delivered interview system as it existed and also as you mention v.a. benefits to her community care program. the veteran is getting taken care of. v.a. care is going to happen. v.a. care will be there. there will always be the healthcare system for the veteran. but the way we express that is like we do in this body. there's different expression how we make it better. we don't do the same thing four years ago we still do today if wanting to stay current with what's going on. our new veterans deserve every access to find a care with a canon or in your case if they have a long way to go they need to find a care if they want to but always have the v.a. as backup. the intent of the mission act at the end of the day was not how do we make veteran care available to the veterans who

need it and not have battles over how they get because they want to be able to have that choice. we will continue to do that. >> is at a commitment and it answered to her as to was yes, it is. we're going to follow that up and is going to be day one understanding that that's why we are there. nothing will that up. >> let me highlight as well, i mention geography in the distance. there's lots of other concerns in veterans accessing care. i would highlight the importance that the mission act can play with high risk mental health and addiction issues. we do not have enough care in the v.a. or outside the gate and we need to make certain that whatever the actor comes from is available when it's needed. true? >> yes. i think that is a key -- you're seeing this and you, mental health aspect of this.

as you can see internet talk about this jordan has a physical disability. she can't walk. people will look at jordan and have sympathy but it soon once this am having trouble thinking clearly my brain does not work to repulse. i want to condition the v.a. and community caregivers are drawing near because suicide prevention is one of our biggest issues and we've got to build to drop the best and brightest. this is an issue health white not just in v.a. but also our communities are i want to make sure were getting the opportunity as you just said that member who needs it can find it and find it quickly and efficiently. >> let me talk about transition to civilian life. one of the most dangerous circumstances in the well-being of a member of our military who was soon to become a veteran occurs at that point in transition. there's a time in which there is a sense of loss of belonging of camaraderie of mission of purpose. there's a time in which suicide

ideation is more prevalent and we have required the department of veterans affairs, the department of defense cooperate in a program to properly assess military men and women as they depart active duty. i want to hear how much you value this process and, in fact, how much you value the requirements. because the department of defense and the department of veterans affairs fail to appropriate and adequate implement that caregiving time and to provide the necessary transition support. it is hugely important. it is important to the life of that service member. it's also important to our recruitment and retention the future members of the military. comments? >> mr. chairman, you created purple pea. this is not just a taking care for military veterans coming out from duty in transitioning to a

v.a. care if they choose but also if you go back further to me this is a recruiting issue. this is part of the whole lifecycle of a veteran. if you have good expenses in the deity, bad experiences for some reason or vice versa, you're having people who served in telling the children and others i don't want you to serve. this is all encompassing issue is got to work on. as someone especially as you talked about earlier, transition becomes a timer which for something to have the grounding anymore. they need that connection. with that done a good job of connecting the dots. wonder the things that should disturb all of us today is the 17 number that is often used, 17 veterans who died by suicide. when we understand that here's what we found come over 40% had never connected with the v.a. you have my complete assurance that not only are we going to be a priority, it will be an extra priority for me because we can

use all assets not just dod and v.a. but state veterans association as well. i'm willing to look at anyone we can make the connection to make this transitions as easy as possible. >> i now recognize -- >> thank you, mr. chairman. i know you are exceedingly generous and allotting time process question on going to try to stay within a five-minute speech were you suggesting that i did not? [laughing] >> i would never suggest anything of the sort. i hope we'll have a second round of questions. >> i anticipate that. >> thank you. let me start was an easy questions, congressman collins. when you commit to respond properly to any inquiry from members of this committee to request information and be fully transparent with this committee? >> that is my intention. i will do for this can make sure you have information you need.

>> when you commit to working with the veterans service organizations and other stakeholders in making decisions at the v.a.? >> i look for to working with this committee and members both house and senate and any other organizations willing to help us help our veteran. >> including the office of inspector general, government can the office and office of special counsel? >> i think you laid out very essence of accountability not only from this body but others they give us insight into what were doing and how we're doing it so yes, i look for to those in making sure we look at those recommendations, work on them where we can't. >> last week at hearing of the homeland security committee i gave russell vought the nominee for omb director the opportunity to renounce a proposal that he made and is included in project 2025 to impose a means test for v.a. disability compensation benefits.

i also asked him about his proposal to clawback benefits from service disabled veterans. he has advocated that anybody with less than a 3% disability receive no benefits. he refused to renounce either proposal. i need from you a commitment that you will oppose any such efforts by the administration. >> i made a habit of being here on the answer for someone else an equation was asked of him. i will say this. i'm going to come i'm not part of project 20125 come have a ready. i'm going to take care the veterans. we're not going to balance budgets on the of veterans benefits. we're going to put the veteran first. that decision comes to the secretary. that's than a budgetary oversight. that's why we come to you for. as we talked in your office if there's issue i need all come to you with the issue of solving it. there's issues i see want to see but the law doesn't allow the know say his woolly chainsaw because us will be done before.

my commitment is to better and making sure we have a budget and sufficiently funded sore veterans receive receive their benefits. i will interpret that as a yes. >> mr. wray commemorate you can interpret it. >> in his first term president trump attempted to go down this road by trying to eliminate individual unemployability benefits for retirement age veterans in my view a very ill-conceived proposal that was later retracted and hope that you will oppose any such proposal during this an administration. >> ranking member blumenthal on not for me with the discussion. what i am through with his what trump did advocate during his first reason of information act. the things that put veterans first. his work i want to take care of the veteran. as we look forward i look for to carry anodization of taking care of her veterans, putting them first making to the v.a. is in the situation where it is doing that and having the resources and having efficiency needs to make it better. i look back to what he's done

and you know those putting the veteran first and i will be doing the same. >> thank you. as you know for far too long across administrations of both parties, frankly, the v.a. major and minor construction projects for hospitals, , nursing homes d other critical infrastructure priorities, these are the nuts and bolts of the facility, is dependent upon by our veterans for care have been dramatically underfunded. for years i do fight for funding to modernize the v.a. facility in west haven. finally it's underway. there are thousands of other projects. i would bet in every one of my colleagues districts that need that kind of funding it's a bipartisan issue that's good or bad and good for local economies in red states and blue states. the longer we wait the more expensive construction becomes. if confirmed we commit you will

work with us to make those kinds of investments a priority? >> i think what you just hit is bigger than buildings. it's about the future of the v.a. it's about how we take care of her veterans. when you from the question funding this project i look at as an with a project that helps the veteran? i will be in every district. so yes, i'm looking for to using the limited powers coming from the caucus and how we spend those to make sure we are prioritizing those needs in areas you mentioned. you talk about your home state as well but these are areas on one to look for to make sure the projects of metal and that officially and on time and also the proper oversight and we don't see them drag on for you strive for too many times in your offices and it was almost 60 plus senators this has been issue that comes up consistently that we have to be better stewards of rebuilding projects selected in the debate it's the who gets served. >> thank you. thank you, mr. chairman.

>> i almost gaveled you at the time, 43 seconds could could use to make sure you knew the order of things. >> i knew that was coming. >> senator shaheen will be ruggedized next, one of our colleagues was kind enough to allow him to go instead because he recites at the city at 11:00. senator sheehy, welcome to this committee. you are recognized. >> thank you, chairman. thank you very here thanks or bring your family. it's great to see them all here. the military is a family business. when woody for months and years, that carries the weight. i come from a large state not a whole lot of people and a lot of our veterans had to travel many, many hours to get the v.a. care. i would be curious to hear your thoughts on how are going to expand access to get into care. as senator blumenthal and is discussed it's been press release, talked about but i think we know from experience it's been hard for veterans to

effectively mesh their veterans health care benefits with being able to seamlessly go to the community and get the character if you're from plenty woodmont and it can a five half hour drive to a v.a. care facility. i want to make sure we take action to ensure veterans can go in the community and get to the needs of don't have to drive many, many hours away. >> thank you and welcome. it's good to see you. i may be from north georgia but issues of world this is not new to district. i have a flutist appalachia mounts. i started -- the appalachian trail. i get the fact sometimes the distance may be deceiving even shorter distance how to get there. that could be a problem for veterans especially older veterans. i had a 90-year-old veteran to asking him to drive 90 miles to get corrective lenses and he was happily trouble seeing. not the best position we need to be.

senator johnny isakson was your friend of mine. the choice act begin the mission act because we saw these issues of. for me it's about making sure we publicize what is out there. that's been a concern, is make sure that is understand the benefits of a happy we both know sometimes it's hard to get there. i'm committed to making sure we're using every avenue to make sure the benefits that they know about if you want to use them great it will be there but some did not know. for you and of the states and rural states and even urban settings with that make sure access isn't there. in saying that, it also needs to make sure the v.a. itself is outstanding in the way, that where there is conditions met preconditioning and eligible for unity care is that the v.a. stand in the way to getting them health care they need. that could come to call centers, doctor visit everything else. we will be working with that.

>> great. as a wounded vet who transition it, i was also active duty weser together at the same time. the hardest part about v.a. care i found in most of my peers i think agree is the handoff from active-duty healthcare, the handoff to the unfortunately i was fortunate enough i had a fantastic handoff. very, very few veterans independent spot. how can you ensure with a smooth and seamless handoff from active-duty members so when it entered the v.a. medical records are poured over, here is poured over and it happens seamlessly for the veteran? >> senator, as we just discussed i was discussing this in a transition with the chairman. it's the most important for the family itself. you understand that with your transition, your wife transition period there's that unsettling. we would go compatible get care if we need care? especially if there's

pre-existing or something, how do we get by? several things we need to make sure our touch is a much better. there's this program sexud the v.a. touches on occasion making sure they get the transition care. this has sought happy we need to do better. there's an issue with not discussed yet will come up e times and that's the medical records. my commitment is one of the very first priorities if confirmed is to get an figure out why i put this on a bigger time from to get the medical record issues solved. i'll say this now and say it again, the v.a. is special but is not unique. hear me when i say that. it special and he we keep in who we trust anyway take care. it's not unique in the sense we do healthcare. healthcare is done in this country every day outside the v.a. as well as as a larger m which is the v.a.

we've got to get a record states we can easy handle. what should be a simple click of a button many times taken of it in office when i was in congress up to almost a year to get those records transferred. that leads to uncertainty for the veteran come for the family makes a very unhealthy experience for those that are serving. >> thanks for your service to the country, the war, thanks to your family for service and thanks for stepping up again. >> senator murray. >> thank you, mr. chairman. congressman rick to see. thank you for meeting with me in my office. i i appreciated that discussion and going to start with question reference referenced what you just talked about because back in 2018 under president trump's first administration the v.a. in of which is the oracle center-no-bid contract to run up the city electronic health record to all v.a. facilities. the first went live my host in 2020. it was disastrous. v.a. endangered patients by

rushing the deployment not making sure the system was technically sound, not working with the clinicians on the ground and not providing sufficient training. veterans have and providedg are still paying the price for that. last month v.a. announced it would be moving forward with predetermined activities at the next for the electronic health record. you said you reference it here you plan to make ehr a priority. i want to know what specifically that means. are you going to advertise it arising the limitation, or are you going to prioritize it by getting the system right and focusing on veterans safety and clinical production,, productivity issued to move forward? >> thank you send it appear i did enjoy our time together in your office. there's the old saying there's never a more perilous issue than to be on the tip of a new idea. back is back a long ways and eschew what happens here. when i say were going to make

this a priority that means we're going to see for me it's going to be taking it as a full, i'm taken the first step and will look at it from fresh eyes. i've not been there for what even this committee would have to say there's been too long and cost too much money. we are going to about the vendor from oracle, make sure to find out whether issues to listen to clinicians can listen to hospital. as i said we are spatial and who we care for but we are not unique. there's no reason we cannot get this done. that's the concern i have because this body and you have dense a great job with appropriation process of making sure we are funding the system that we're sitting here six to eight years away and nothing has happened. that causes just as the center was talk that not only the transition but affects the patients. we've got to get better health records we not only have the issue with our 101 doctor interaction. we can move faster, vacancy information and it safe for the

patient. as soon as possible in the very early stages that confer ongoing to gather together members of my staff that will be specifically passed to as soon as possible within the first days at this administration to see what is the issue, why is awaiting a why did the previous administration which is let's say they may try to start back in 26? i'm not sure why iu would take care. i believe can do it in properly not rush. there's enough information of leaf we can get it done quicker but it will take looking aspr the first step would be to bring oracle centerss in along with yr staff. please make sure you talk with this people on the ground that if indeed it with this to understand what has gone wrong come weitzman such a problem as you take others next steps. i would ask you please stay in touch with me. this has been a top priority and i've been so frustrated with it. >> seantor, you will be amazed

at how many conversations i've had and we had as well with, it is, can't oversize white needs to be done. being on the hill impositions,, it's an understanding this has become to normal, to normal that we appropriate billions and yet seen no results in 60 years. president trump at the administration started this heather ray did and will continue that. we're going to have to work together. the finger-pointing is done. it's time to get it done for one reason. as i said the nation is the bet. the veteran says rhonda vincent and if, if we're not giving the right tools then the clinician, the nurses are not able to mesh. i will not accept we can't differ i will not except i don't know. i will not accept we don't have enough money, you that eight years and billions of dollars i'm with you on this. we will work together. >> thank you. quickly of my last 30 seconds, reference something senator blumenthal mentioned in his

opening remarks and that is i cared even better when setters and that have the services they need. i want to ask you to believe a veteran who lives in texas who is been raped and becomes pregnant should be able to get abortion care after local v.a.? >> seantor, that is an issue that is very sensitive in this body. something that has been looked at here for what the law says says the v.a. does not do abortions. two years ago that was a decision of slick that had decided i will tell you this. will be looking at that issue when they get in if confirmed at the v.a. is following the law. >> did do you plan to modify e law? >> i will repeat what you said. when we get into a look and make sure the law is being followed from the 1992 law where they said they couldn't and revision that just happens. i want you to know i would be following this very closely. i want to make sure women veterans get the health care they need. >> thank you, senator. >> thank you. >> senator sullivan. >> thank you, mr. chairman, and

congratulations to you and the reykjavík on your new positions. looking for to working with you. congressman collins, congratulations to you. thank you to your wonderful beautiful family there behind you. it's great you doing this. i agree with my good friend kevin cramer in his opening remarks. you are eminently qualified, imminently qualified. as a veteran yourself and as a chaplain. i agree with senator cramer to bring some real unique insights. going to be great and of the 14 strong supporting your confirmation. i'm a big fan and i hope we have bipartisan support for your confirmation while given your qualifications so thanks for your willingness to serve appreciate our meeting. i focused a lot on alaska for really important reasons my state has more veterans per capita than any state in the country. so a real patriotic place way up north. we are big, talking big states.

i what you think in the size of alaska because of the want to embarrass anybody but it is really, really, really big. when tim sheehy left i think where fiber sextant bigger than montana and we don't have one full-service veteran hospital. not one. outside of nature, that's it. we have really big challenges for all those reasons because resume veterans, challenging because were big and we don't even have one full-service hospital. we had many disasters in my view with the v.a. you and i talked about some. in 2015 when it came to the senate the v.a. system in alaska collapsed. it was a first big think i don't with as a brand-new senator. it collapsed because they took, realign these visions here took the patient in alaska and carlson and alaska and with people making appointments for

alaska veterans based in the lower 40 didn't have a clue about our state. the system collapse. we had a giant backlog, last year the backlog was up to 12,000 veterans, which is a lot for my state because we still have call centers based in lower 40 say veteran and let's say ketchikan, alaska, says hey i need to get to anchorage hospital. the call center said okay drive, way, it's an island. they don't even know it's an island. i need to get equipment from you in the mission act as able to get legislation that said if you don't have full-service hospital, and by the way only us an answer, that you can go to community care. why wouldn't you? the call centers don't allow that because he don't know about alaska. they don't know the bill or the law. it's a disaster for my veterans. can i get your commitment to work with me on all the alaska

challenges but this call-center issue and bring it when you call center back in my state for people who understand what the state is all about and help bring down this very big backlog. can i get your commitment on that to help our veterans? and, of course, to get your commitment to come up to alaska, bring the whole family, common summer if you want and we can go fisher after or in the winter, maybe be a state that's dark and 50 below zero. so either way. your choice. your choice. >> i appreciate you make it sound so attractive the last part. look, you brought out a point when you talk about this and uniqueness of alaska in new hampshire and not having the hospital full-service so they do go very much use community care.

it is disturbing to me as ask that you had about 5000 last time we talked veterans waivers for health benefits. this is not benefit backlog. this is a healthcare backlog. 5000 souls that are there not getting speedy by the last somethings up to 12,000. outgoing secretary was trying but 12,000 just waiting to get an appointment to cows we get the lower 40 who's never been to alaska try to make an appointment for an alaska veteran. disaster. >> i agree. when you told me that it surprised me and something to look at. sometimes things get lost and roxy. yet to go back to maintain fumbling to commit you to look at that and see if we can make it better so they understand ketchikan is an island in the can't drive there. >> let me ask one final question quickly. we talked about it. our alaska native community is also incredibly patriotic. alaska natives serve at high

rates the military than any other ethnic group in the country. so super patriotic. live in a lot of our rural canaries and our alaska native healthcare organizations have reached into the rural parts of the state that you don't know of the place does the v.a. has a long history of working with our alaska native health organizations to extend the reach of care in two very rural parts of america convertible parts of alaska, and partner to get alaska native veterans but also non-natives who live in his rural communities to go to alaska native health organization to get care because they are partnered with the v.a. can i i get you commitment to continue a good relationship? sometimes it's contentious on negotiating the agreements but they are really worth it to expand and extend v.a. health care for native alaskans non-native non-native alaskans in the most real parts of our state. >> yes.

i am willing to commit to do that and also any other district across this country will become part to make sure veterans for getting the health care they need. of course. >> thank you, congressman to look for to supporting you and a lot more questions for the record. thank you very much. >> senator hirono. >> thank you, mr. chairman. it's nice to see you. congratulations on your nomination. as part of my responsibilities to ensure the fitness of any nominee who comes before any of my committees i asked to mechanician questions the city became a a legal adult have yu ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or salt of a sexual nature. >> us know, i have not. >> have you ever faced discipline entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct? >> no, i have not. >> i would like to note that how that a hawaii does not have full-service the hospital and

like alaska has access issues with seven inhabited islands and veterans being on all of them. those are all issues that were going to need to continue to address. you are very close to president trump both as a member of the house and since that time. under what circumstances would you say no to a request for order from president trump? >> seantor, where did in hypotheticals. i'm not going to a hypothetical because this president has put veterans first. he's not been asked me to do anything illegal or outside the law and to think the question . something that's not happened and i -- >> excuse me. i think we need to make sure where what your priorities are and you are saying you will not say yes to elite what you consider a legal order. next question. during your time in public life you have been very outspoken

against pregnant peoples right to the own reproductive choices. the role of sector you would be overseeing care for veterans and their loved ones across the entire ideological spectrum. would you resend the interim final rule enacted under the biden administration that allows v.a. to provide abortion counseling and abortions in the case of rape, incest, or where the life or health of the veteran would be in danger? >> thank you, senator. as we just discussed a moment ago the v.a. act of 19 thank you for bids the v.a. from doing abortions. i plan on speed let me clarify something for you. you referred to law that actually is being primas clarified by this final rule. there is as you know debate regarding what the law allows. i believe the law allows this

rule to be an academic question to you is whether you would resend this interim rule that would allow the providing of abortions. >> and the center -- >> to veterans who under circumstances of rape, incest or where her life is endangered when you resend the rule? >> seantor, i was answering your question, we will look at this rule and see if it complies with the law. as you just sit in your own answer it is a debatable issue. we look at make sure the v.a. is following the law. >> of course if you provide these kinds of services are providing all the veterans the full level, the full range of care for reproductive services as needed. regardless of your ideological position. >> my ideological position is based in the law and i will follow the law in this regard. if your question is i was a dissent talked to before the syrian and we could've explained is because -- >> i am asking you under oath. do you believe world-class care

quoting you, includes a full range of reproductive services? >> ivory the range of care provided at the v.a. is following the law and intent of this body as if set forth in the law. >> and is a way you encompass along with the solicitous to two main women veterans been used including 13,000 13,000 e would do so? >> as i -- >> that's what you just has five. >> as i just has effectively get this i will take a look at what the and it is also testified in your question you said the law was just change two years ago. >> i would interpret -- there is a rule that actually interprets the law in a particularly and you say that all depends. >> i understand the ruling. >> and you're not responding to whether or not you will resend that rule which provides care for thousands of female veterans. v.a. has over 450,000 employees

and contracts with hundreds of thousands of private providers across the country. can you explain what roles you have held that would've prepared you for leaving such a large procession. >> i would love to. i have been part of this body which i've overseen and working to vote to work into bills that affect the v.a.'s operation from a day-to-day operation i understand the policy of the v.a. by being a member just like you. i've spent time in a miniature working with many individuals and serve as warner robins air force base in africa man with a little over 656 person working come handy after handling personal decision i been a leader in many other ways anybody leadership decided deal with this in putting the people in good positions to make sure -- >> thank you. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you. senator cramer.

>> i am just compelled to ask this question because senator hirono asked you if you would i think the indication was would you carry out an order, and illegal order by the president of the united states to which this evidence he would ever do. it's so hypothetical to be silly. but i am compelled to ask, would you consider rescinding an illegal rule by the previous administration? it seems to me and illegal rule at least one that's debatable is worthy of significant legal consideration before you would do it just because you felt like doing it. >> i appreciate the the way that his work because that's what i tried to word it to the sender. the law specifically said the v.a. was not to be doing abortions. there are other areas would look at. we look at a situation came up

in 20222 which they were told to look at a rule that would get around that. to meet was time for us to take a look at that rule and make sure just as in every other area of the a life with doing what the law and intent of this body is. that's not come when you get into that for me this is going forward and we all the issues. if it was a matter, i have great respect for this body. what we passed means something. the men become something it does mean something in the administration outside is amended the rule of law falls down. from the yes, i will be looking into this. yes, i will be confirming if it is enforced by the law. >> thank you for quarter to give that opportunity to uninterrupted explain yourself and you did it very well. you hearing about community care obviously. i will spare you my horror stories. senator sheehy did a remarkable job.

as did senator sullivan because those are big world states. you are examples are outstanding. i would add it's my intention to work with my colleagues to further clarify information act what action to community care is. in other words, we still hear horror stories from veterans who lift 300 miles from the v.a. hospital, maybe 100 miles from the nearest -- amoebas of across the street from critical access hospital which with 36 36 spd throughout a wonderful state. hospitals cooperate on the thinnest of margins. it's tragic me to think there's a pattern waiting for paperwork that is being slow walked by a bureaucrat more interested in the v.a. than the are the veteran. all while there's a hospital this barely hanging on across the street.

i'm not exaggerating a little bit when i say that. perhaps i guess my question is would you work with me and colleagues on this committee to find ways to not to streamline the process but to guaranteed? in other words, that the default is not have checked all the boxes on enough pieces of paper to qualify for care summit else before you die trying to get far, far away, but rather you do that first and then the reimbursement comes after that. anyway i'm asking if you would help me, if you've got thoughts and you commit to working with us. >> you've hit the whole heart of why what you this job. i've been asked why do want to go into v.a.? it's been interesting i've had some say congratulations. that's unsafe what are you doing? is a large undertaking. i'm taking this because i care for people and veterans. it's why come from what i believe what i saw from appear. it's what you see as you look at to make it better.

the service organization called the v.a. is about service. it's about the veteran. it's not about the v.a. the v.a. is there and like i said i'm looking for debate a secretary who motivates and unleashes the power of this wonderful war forced which most wonderful workforce that we have the want to do a good job. they need the leadership and encouragement to say let's find yeses instead of nose. let's find the hope in people step trying to find the reason to hold or delay. this is about the veteran, about getting them to access and care that you and i and many voted for. that's why we do what we do. because they deserve it. for me and senator duckworth, i appreciate the region namita about bipartisanship. we had a great conversation in her office discussing how we could look, co-locate cbocs with rural hospitals. if that's a possibility could be looked at. i committed that something would look at because it helps both sides.

we've got to get back to the part where it's about the veteran and then going to empower a workforce of one to get up and say i'm getting to yes, getting to this veteran of the get the help they need. >> you are a leader with the service heart. thank you. you. >> senator king. >> thank you, mr. chairman. congratulations on your assumption of the chairmanship and the ranking member. i want to emphasize a couple points you've discussed. one is transition period critically important and their number of bills that tap promotion act come well, but i can combat that is pre-roman act. i suspect you're familiar with them but i want to hear you were in a greater commitment to this transition and working with the department of defense because it's a partnership that has to happen to make that warm handoff. is that going to be a priority? >> yes. there's so many priorities but

this when you hit about making this transition is so important because it transcends getting to into the service. it transcends that benefit they averred. it goes to her heart making sure they're taking care and feeling wanted. as we started a while back up with its start in recrimination all the way through retirement issue. if they feel like you're taking care of the deity, then it would have a better opportunity if v.a. reaches out with fantasy here's the benefits want to produce within that have placed their and a facility for them. the concern i have is making sure dod, how we can do some cooperative work with the dod and the v.a. also bring into account the state that his associations. >> i want to emphasize that last point. i have a proposal and the defense authorization act, got knocked out in house to communicate a veterans

transition status to the state veterans facility so this person can be greeted at the airport, for example. that's the kind of handoff we want. do you agree? >> i agree. exact what you said, it's how you are proceed. i view the service part of the v.a. is this most important part. sometimes yet it also may know come sometime judge tatel and we can do something in a benefit or something else but the always time to make that veteran feel like they are cared for. the transition time which are talked about as you said that warm hug is a think we need to look at. >> critical moment. it's a time of heightened risk for suicide. let me move on. electronic health record students and discussions. this points out one of the fundamental flaws the federal government procurement process, particularly national security areas will be sealed fieo buy our own custom brand-new shiny product rather than something the city on a shelf.

there is an electronic health record system called epic that thousands of hospitals have used all across the country. instead we're trying to invent our own system which hasn't worked and as you point that has cost billions. i i hope you look at the optionf saying let's go with something that works that we know what works and can be modified to meet our needs, rather than continuing down the road of billions of dollars of a system that has so far not proven itself. >> what you just hit, i'm not going, what i'm committed to his making sure what we have and look at all options on the table table. i want to bring in because oracle has had place of what aubrey have facilities already run the program. the show went back to earlier that the v.a. to special but not unique. we've got to get out of the unique this at how is it different than largest health organization like this that there are not better ways we can do?

dispatches and medical health records. we cut look for better ways. >> a lot of discussion about the mission act and community care. i all for it under the appropriate circumstances but not at the expense of creeping elimination of the veterans health care system. i believe i heard you say earlier you remain committed to v.a. healthcare in addition to community care where appropriate, is that correct? >> you heard correctly. i believe there will always be if the health care for veteran. what we have to do is make sure we are adapting and making sure we're giving the care as authorized to make sure we do it in a way that is appropriate to the veteran. it stole still overtime ie situation spacing specit parts of the country where we have to have the veterans do the mission and with intent was in the past. >> mentioned you not read project went with-are you familiar with it? there some suggestions i find friday. >> i've not accept what i've heard. >> for example, there's a

provision that new management approaches should be used in the private sector to be employed to improve the current activities. that might be code for loan for sharks. are you supportive of the guard the act which are usually with that bill? >> i'm vaguely familiar. yes, i have touched a. >> it's a very important bipartisan bill to protect veterans as claim sharks. i'll have other think anything. thank you, mr. chairman. >> senator banks, welcome to the committee. you are wrecking a. >> thank you, mr. chairman. great to see. we served together in the house and those four years of president trump's first-term reform act great use for america's veterans. president trump was the veterans president we did great things, expanding the mission act come

greater accountability for v.a. employees. we listened standards for the g.i. bill. resident trump sent us down a path to modernize electronic health records. the list goes on and on from the v.a. crisis hotline to other issues that we -- the reporters that he you and i had a chance work on in-house is among the greatest accomplishments in eight years i served in congress. we have another four years and you're going to be a great secretary which with a great president. i can't wait to work with you to do even greater things for america's heroes here i do have some concerns about the -- condition of our medical facilities. you and and i talked about n my office. the indianapolis medical center is due for a total replacement. ..

have the experience 60 plus this is beyond you look at the hospital, average 15 to 20 years which goes into different areas and they are going to be important but as we discussed the healthcare facilities will have major work to make that happen so something will work

toward and work with the body to get the money for that. >> struggling with construction for years. indianapolis, they are facing significant delays veterans. how do you prioritize these functions within the va? >> sure maybe not a slimmed-down but may not going through multiple layers, making it political and you had to go with the corps of engineer which we were here for and we have to make sure we have the right

people and bring and help. if i could say one thing i knew president who wanted to take care. >> we look forward to changing that quickly. new clinics and why they were chosen and it made hard for me why it was chosen for this clinic and another location wasn't. do you think they should let them know where they are going? >> i believe we should have a much better relationship and we

discussed how we locate those but if you allow this, i believe and after listening to plus conversations we have have a better working relationship va and members of this body and legislative affairs. >> confirmed by this body will be proactive, not reactive to answer policy questions but i want people which on the ground talking not to see you but hearing your joints. 60% of your services fall under va, benefits are okay. the people can know to talk to but they will relate so we have a problem from your office, we

will have a chance to react much quicker so we are not seeing it in the paper six months later. i've made a promise to everyone, it is a large undertaking but when a member of the military of a veteran has to call our office at the care, it is a mark of failure in our department but i believe all of our employees.

>> thank you, mr. chairman and i'm pleased to be on the committee. you and i served cia officer in the administration so people and policies that different than my own beliefs and making sure veterans get the care they need and they don't strip programs for the psaki of cutting the

workforce. we talked about the impact act when you are in my office. i will talk about bill, the potential to expand care 3 million, 9/11 era veterans and be elizabeth dole act really does amazing for mental health and expanding programs on long-term care so can you give me assurance while i know from president trump the size of the government will always on behalf of veterans because in places like michigan we expanded them coming and and hurting veterans

so just a simple answer. >> we are not going to sacrifice. >> the institution not to any one president. only issue of veterans benefits, do you believe you have the ability to change discharge status of any one veteran?

>> that's not under my purview. >> do you believe veterans benefits can be cut based on personal or political beliefs? >> no, but if it is earned is not political. what veterans action, service and discharge status is determined by their moment they serve the country whether we like the use or not. that's why we never had it taken away from january 6 protesters even when they were convicted. similarly, the u.s. military and coast guard removed from the job.

and we will take care to make sure take care. and after the service, --

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