[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H4787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             AMERICA'S VETERANS DESERVE QUALITY HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. POMPEO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POMPEO. Mr. Speaker, what is taking place today in America's 
Veterans Administration may be the most egregious case of friendly fire 
in the history of the United States of America.
  This harm to our veterans from our team is coming not from firearms, 
but from an enormous bureaucracy that is incapable of dealing with 
providing health care to our Nation's warriors. It is unacceptable.
  Words alone, Mr. President, I have to say, are not enough. We need 
action, not anger. We need results. We need delivery of health care to 
our warriors now, and whether that health care comes from inside the 
Veterans Administration or from outside, we need to get folks off our 
waiting lists, out of lines, and in to see doctors and folks who are 
prepared to take care of them.
  The sacrifices these men and women made are enormous. As a veteran, I 
certainly understand that.
  As a Member of Congress, I understand that it is my responsibility to 
make sure we fix this challenge, this bureaucratic mess that our Nation 
has put these veterans in now for years and years.
  As we approach Memorial Day, we need to all take this seriously. I 
would urge this House to continue to work to perform its function of 
oversight and to correct this most egregious situation and get these 
veterans the care that they need.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Amodei). Members are reminded to direct 
their remarks to the Chair.

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