mr. kovacs is recognized. senator kovacs: i appreciate the opportunity to testify today. -- mr. kovacs: i appreciate the opportunity to testify today. pva is a concern of the funding levels in this appropriations bill that passed the house of representatives. the funding levels outlined in this critical bill suggest that congress is not committed to addressing the internal capacity problems the v.a. faces. first and foremost, the spinal cord injury and disease service line. moreover it reflects an attitude that suggests how to do more with less. take care of veterans on the chief was never part of the deal when our country mortgage its future on the lives of the few who came forward to protect it. if congress is serious about fixing the problems with timely access to high-quality care, it needs to get serious about the funding levels that would provide for the v.a. pva's dismay congress has continued to allow the inequity of the comprehensive family care giver law to stand. the v.a. only provides comprehensive benefits to caregivers of service-connected veterans injured after 9/1

mr. kovacs is recognized. senator kovacs: i appreciate the opportunity to testify today. -- mr. kovacs: i appreciate the opportunity to testify today. pva is a concern of the funding levels in this appropriations bill that passed the house of representatives. the funding levels outlined in this critical bill suggest that congress is not committed to addressing the internal capacity problems the v.a. faces. first and foremost, the spinal cord injury and disease service line. moreover it reflects an attitude that suggests how to do more with less. take care of veterans on the chief was never part of the deal when our country mortgage its future on the lives of the few who came forward to protect it. if congress is serious about fixing the problems with timely access to high-quality care, it needs to get serious about the funding levels that would provide for the v.a. pva's dismay congress has continued to allow the inequity of the comprehensive family care giver law to stand. the v.a. only provides comprehensive benefits to caregivers of service-connected veterans injured after 9/1

i think about how much care that mr. kovac mentioned that we could be giving our veterans, it takes away from other construction projects. i didn't sign on to be the project manager. they can do better and they will do better. the oversight from our committee will do that. it is a privilege to start my comments to serve on this community -- committee and to serve those now -- i have been to afghanistan twice and i hope to go again. we have the most courageous volunteer and highly trained military in the history of this country. every time i speak, i am a fiscal conservative but there are three things i will never apologize for spending money on. if you are a soldier in the field i want you to have whatever you do to protect you and your comrades. when you have made that service and you come home i want this country to serve you again. thirdly, i will support my agriculture community. i want to make sure my farmers are taken care of. i appreciate you being here. i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative day