Va Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. WALZ. Mr. Chairman, I have three amendments that are coming up. On this first one, I am going to yield time to my colleague, who is the author of the original bill.

I just wanted to say, first of all, in appreciation to the chairman of the full committee, the bipartisan manner of approaching this is in the long tradition of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. It is also in the long tradition of the chairman himself, welcoming ideas, trying to strike balances, having legitimate differences that are meant to be discussed--for that, I am grateful--and also for restoring regular order.

Making our amendments in order to try to improve upon a bill is something that is a time-honored tradition here. Unfortunately, it has not been the norm. So the chairman's leadership on that issue is greatly appreciated.

This amendment I want to be very clear about when the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) talks about it.

The amendment does not disagree with the basic premise of the reform. There are legitimate differences amongst us here. We will work those out. But it is a harsh reality that we don't have a Senate companion on this. The chance that the White House is going to sign the reform piece into law is nonexistent. But there is a piece of this that is noncontroversial that is critically important, and that is the appeals process.

The ranking member, under the leadership of Ms. Titus, has recognized this as an issue, brought about bipartisan solutions to it; and it can be passed and be signed by the President and be positively affecting veterans right away.

That doesn't diminish the need for the reforms. It doesn't question the value of the things that are being brought forward. It is a political reality that we are better off to move on a piece we know can be signed into law than to wait for something that can't.

Mr. Chair, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), the author of this legislation.

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Mr. WALZ. Mr. Chair, I want to, again, thank the chairman.

This is not an attempt to derail the reforms. It is an attempt to try to get something passed and done immediately. I certainly welcome the chairman's advice, guidance, suggestions on ways that we can make that happen in the most expedient manner.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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