Hearing of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee - Remarks For The Record

Hearing

Chairman Isakson and Ranking Member Blumenthal, thank you for your attention to this
important project.

* And, thank you for traveling to Denver to see and hear first-hand what its completion
means for our veterans in Colorado and across the Rocky Mountain region.

* Now that you've seen the structure and heard from our veterans here in Colorado, I'm
sure you understand why our delegation has been so outraged and frustrated by this
process, and also why we're adamant that this hospital is completed.

* There is no other option.

* Bottom line: those most hurt by the VA's negligence and mismanagement are our
veterans and our taxpayers who have lost faith in the VA to complete this project.

* In the words of Steve Rylant and the UVC -- "BTDT" -- Build The Damn Thing.

* There is also much work to be done to ensure that the mistakes that were made on the
Denver replacement facility never happen again -- especially since lessons learned from
previous VA construction projects were not applied to this project.

* That must change.

* We owe that to our veterans and to the taxpayers.

* The story of this Denver replacement facility should have been about the government
improving the delivery of care to our veterans, instead of how feckless and shortsighted it
can be.

* The delegation here today looks forward to working with our colleagues in Congress and
our partners in the Rocky Mountain region to do just that.

* Chairman, we will work with you, our veterans and the other members of the Committee
to find a solution that completes the hospital so veterans can access the care they have
been promised.

* Thank you

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