[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LIVING IN A WORLD OF MAKE BELIEVE

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                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 2016

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the VA is not the ``Happiest Place on 
Earth.'' It is not Disneyland, and our veterans are not living in a 
world of make-believe. Secretary McDonald should be ashamed of himself 
for belittling our veterans. Dying in line waiting for medical services 
is not the same as waiting for Mickey Mouse.
  Disneyland wait times are a matter of hours--not months. Reports find 
that nearly half of vets never see a doctor because of failure of VA 
staff to schedule an appointment. The VA owes our veterans an apology. 
Veterans should be allowed to get vouchers for private physicians.
  Next week we observe Memorial Day--honoring our warriors who died for 
America. We also will honor those who fought in faraway-distant lands 
just to come home and be a casualty of the VA's incompetence.
  Secretary McDonald should be replaced with someone who respects 
America's heroes and ensures that no one else dies in line waiting for 
care at the fault of the VA.
  And that's just the way it is.

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